Manual Therapy is a hands-on treatment technique utilized by physical therapists to reduce pain, increase mobility and enhance function. It involves massage, joint mobilization, manipulation, stretching and passive range of motion exercises.
At your appointment with your physical therapist, they will perform a comprehensive assessment to determine which manual therapy type may be most beneficial for you. This includes checking blood and supply levels, bone health, and muscle strength.
Joint Manipulation
Joint manipulation is a type of Manual Therapy in Georgia that can help alleviate pain and enhance range of motion for patients suffering from various conditions. Often, joint movement and manipulation are performed alongside other treatment methods like corrective exercise, dry needling or cupping to achieve maximum effect.
This treatment aims to remove all soft and hard tissue restrictions that have restricted joint mobility and function. These can include crepitus, stiffness, weakness caused by injuries, stress, age-related wear-and-tear, poor posture and daily tasks.
Musculoskeletal and chemical effects of joint manipulation may be most evident through an audible “crack” or “pop,” caused by cavitation – the formation and collapse of microscopic gas bubbles within synovial fluid surrounding the joint.
Soft Tissue Mobilization
The body’s soft tissues include muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia. These act as a support system to safeguard bones, joints and organs when injured. When these connective tissues are damaged, an extensive period of inflammation takes place to repair the damage before scar tissue forms.
These scars can cause pain, swelling and reduced mobility in your muscles. A physical therapist can treat the soft tissues in your body by using manual therapy techniques to break up scar tissue and improve circulation.
Your therapist will use deep pressure to relax tense muscles, move fluids trapped in the tissue and break up scar tissue that may be causing pain. These treatments can be highly effective for treating chronic soft tissue injuries.
Soft Tissue Mobilization (STM) is a manual therapy technique that utilizes stretching and deep pressure to break up rigid muscle tissue, relax muscle tension, and move fluids trapped within soft tissue. It’s commonly used to treat injuries such as sprains and strains, helping to increase range of motion.
Manual Traction
Manual therapy is a physical therapy treatment method that utilizes hands-on techniques to increase range of motion, mobility and muscle flexibility. Additionally, it reduces pain and inflammation, and can be combined with other modalities in order to aid recovery from an injury or disease.
Our physical therapists are skilled in a range of modern manual therapy techniques, such as joint manipulation and soft tissue mobilization. These can assist you in recovering from injuries or illnesses of all kinds.
Manual therapy not only reduces pain, but it can also assist your body in healing more quickly and restoring normal function. It can be combined with other approaches like patient education, exercise, and prevention for maximum overall wellness benefits.
Manual therapy can be beneficial for a range of musculoskeletal conditions, including neck pain and back pain. It helps reduce tension, increase circulation and break down scar tissue.
Stretching
Stretching is a form of manual therapy that involves moving muscle or other soft tissue through its full range of motion. This helps improve flexibility, reduce joint pain and stiffness, as well as protect against injury.
Stretches should be done regularly, at least twice a week. They shouldn’t be painful and you should move at a pace that feels comfortable for you.
Before stretching, warm up your muscles with light exercise such as walking, jogging or biking for 5-10 minutes. This will increase blood flow to the area and make the tissue more pliable.
When doing static stretching, it is essential to hold the stretch for only 15-30 seconds and not longer. This is your body’s safety measure called the stretch reflex which protects you from serious injury by contracting muscles and tendons.