Manual Therapy
Manual therapy involves using hands-on techniques to assess and treat injuries in the muscles, joints (spine and extremities)
and connective tissues of the body. By evaluating how a patient is moving and assessing the mobility in the joints and other tissues, the source a patient's pain and movement restrictions can be determined and resolved.
Conditions that may benefit from Manual Therapy:
Headaches & Migraines
Neck Pain & Stiffness
Whiplash
Jaw Pain & Stiffness
Midback Pain & Stiffness
Shoulder Pain
Elbow & Wrist Pain
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Post Fracture Stiffness & Pain
Post Surgical Rehabilitation
Osteoarthritis Pain
Lower Back Pain & Stiffness
Pelvic Pain
Hip & Knee Pain
Ankle Sprains
Foot Pain
This list is not exhaustive. Other conditions also benefit from manual therapy.
What to Expect
During the initial assessment, a full medical history will be taken along with a discussion of a patients physical symptoms, concurrent therapies and goals for therapy. A detailed physical assessment of the painful or injured area will be occur. This examination will include assessing: joint restrictions, spinal mobility, muscular strength, connective tissue restrictions, functional movements and other tests specific to the injured area to determine the cause of a patients pain.
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Follow the initial assessment, a complete review of the findings and a discussion if manual therapy is the most effective treatment choice for a patient's injuries will occur.
Manual therapy on a taped knee
During a treatment session a wide variety of treatment techniques may be used such as joint manipulation and mobilization to release restrictions in the spine and extremities and soft tissue release of the muscles and connective tissue. The techniques used with each patient will vary depending on the unique needs of each individual and will be discussed with a patient prior to treatment.
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Therapeutic taping may also be used as part of treatment as well. There any many different types of athletic tape with a wide variety of applications such as: providing increased joint stability, supporting foot arches, offloading tight musculature and connective tissues, reducing muscle spasming, and assisting with alignment and posture.
Benefits of Manual Therapy
There are many benefits of manual therapy such as: decreasing pain and stiffness, increasing joint range of motion and optimizing mobility and healing. These beneficial effects will vary depend on the technique used. Specific techniques will be chosen based upon each patients unique needs and injuries and will be discussed prior to use in a treatment session.
After Treatment
Every patient will respond to manual therapy differently. Some patients may experience mild soreness in the areas treated. Most patients will notice a reduction of pain and increase in mobility; however, complex injuries and persistent pain syndromes may require a few treatments before significant improvements are noticed.
If you have further questions or concerns regarding manual therapy, or if you are not sure if this is best type of treatment for your health care needs, please contact the clinic.
For more information on manual therapy, please visit:
The Canadian Academy of Manipulative Physiotherapy
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