Hands on Manual Therapy
A highly skilled and specific hands-on technique including but not limited to extremity manipulation/spinal mobilization, used by the physical therapist to diagnose and treat soft tissues and joint structures for the purpose of modulating pain; increasing range of motion (ROM); reducing or eliminating soft tissue inflammation; inducing relaxation; improving contractile and non-contractile tissue repair, extensibility, and/or stability; facilitating movement; and improving function. Manual therapy is an effective in rapidly returning the injured person to a productive status once the joint dysfunction is corrected.
Physical treatments includes massage, soft tissue mobilization, various connective tissue techniques, myofascial release, craniosacral techniques, joint mobilization, joint manipulation, mobilization of neural tissue, muscle energy techniques, accupressure/trigger point therapy, visceral mobilization, and strain/counterstrain.
Joint mobilization can be general or specific. We prefer utilizing a more specific approach with the goal of assessing and restoring function at the ‘target’ synovial joint with the aim of achieving a therapeutic effect. This can be applied to the spine and extremities.
Benefits include:
- Temporary to permanent relief of musculoskeletal pain.
- Shortened recovery time.
- Possibility to improve recovery with self mobilization.
- Temporary increase in passive range of motion (ROM).
- Physiological effects upon the central nervous system.
