Manual therapy is a key specialty in physical therapy, using hands-on techniques like massage and joint mobilization to ease pain and improve mobility. It’s effective for injuries, inflammation, chronic pain, and connective tissue issues. At JAG PT, serving NJ, NY, and PA, our therapists use manual therapy and other advanced techniques to treat a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions. Book your appointment today or learn more below.
What Is Manual Therapy and How Does It Work?
As noted, the techniques that are given the label “manual therapy” are all literally hands-on. Rather than using an instrument or the patient’s own movement, the physical therapist manipulates the patient’s musculoskeletal system with their hands. The primary reason for this approach is precision – in this way, the therapist can literally feel for abnormalities and perform complex processes on the muscles and connective tissue based on this feedback. They can therefore target the causes of musculoskeletal issues while also being as gentle as possible on parts of the patient’s body that may be weak or in pain.
Specific modalities of manual therapy that are used for many conditions include joint and soft tissue mobilization, medical massage, and myofascial release, among others. More specialized techniques such as lymphatic drainage and active assistance range of motion (AAROM), meant to treat particular disorders, also fall into this category. Generally, manual therapy combats both symptoms and root causes through various methods of action, including increasing circulation, enhancing range of motion, and lowering the neurological propensity for pain signals.
Which Musculoskeletal Conditions Benefit Most from Manual Therapy?
Given the many techniques that are categorized as manual therapy, a diverse range of muscle, joint, and nerve conditions can be treated with this category of PT. However, a therapist will use different manual therapy modalities depending on the location and the nature of the patient’s musculoskeletal issue.
Low back pain and sciatica, neck pain, and shoulder pain, for instance, usually respond well to medical massage, although the effectiveness depends on the exact cause of the pain. Knee and hip joint dysfunction and post-surgical stiffness can be alleviated with various mobilization and range-of-motion techniques. Perhaps the most common use for manual therapy, however, is helping to heal and relieve lingering pain from sports injuries, including strains and tendonitis – typically, patients will need a combination of techniques which the therapist will determine individually.
Can Manual Therapy Help with Chronic Pain or Neurological Conditions?
It isn’t just acute musculoskeletal issues that can be treated with manual therapy, however. The diffuse pain, long-term nature, and wide range of symptoms from chronic pain conditions can make these health problems difficult to deal with, but manual therapy offers a surprisingly high degree of symptom relief for many patients.
Various manual therapy techniques can lessen pain flares and fatigue for people with fibromyalgia, for example. Targeted massage is useful for problem points in the head and neck for patients who have severe chronic tension headaches and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction. Even certain forms of peripheral neuropathy can be relieved with manual therapy, which can help decompress nerve roots and put other forms of symptom relief into effect. While PT can’t cure any of these conditions, many of the modalities found in manual therapy can increase quality of life greatly by addressing symptoms as needed.
Is Manual Therapy the Right Approach for Your Recovery?
As discussed above, patients who have a wide variety of different conditions may see vast improvement through the use of manual therapy. Nevertheless, everyone’s case must be evaluated individually, thanks to the complexity and unique nature of each person’s musculoskeletal system. While most physical therapy regimens will include at least some manual therapy elements, whether you use it will depend on your therapist’s assessment and your comfort. You will be treated with a given manual therapy technique only if the therapist is confident it will be safe and effective for you and you choose to undergo it.
Feel the Difference with Hands-On Care at JAG Physical Therapy
If you’re considering manual therapy for your health condition, know that early intervention is almost always best, in order to keep your symptoms from worsening and potentially help you recover faster. Each JAG Physical Therapy location is staffed by a team of skilled and empathetic therapists who will combine specialized techniques to give you the personalized treatment plan you need. Our comprehensive, evidence-based approach has helped countless patients throughout the New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania region move better and get back to their pain-free routine – book an appointment now to get started.