manual therapy

Manual therapy is a hands-on, specialized physical therapy treatment involving the use of pressure applied by the hands to areas of the body experiencing consistent pain. This type of therapy is usually implemented with other traditional therapy techniques to assist in achieving greater results. Manual therapy can:

  • Treat both acute and chronic pain
  • Reduce inflammation and swelling of soft tissue
  • Increase mobility
  • Reduce overall pain in the treatment area

Forms of Manual Therapy

Manual therapy is not a straightforward process, it is catered to the specific needs of the patient. Some of the different forms of manual therapy include:

  • Myofascial trigger point therapy
  • Soft tissue mobilization/manipulation
  • Muscle energy techniques
  • Strain-counterstrain

Conditions Manual Therapy Can Treat

Manual therapy can help treat a number of conditions, some of which you may not have even realized such as:

  • Neck pain
  • Lower back pain
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Migraines and headaches
  • TMJ
  • Knee pain
  • Ankle pain
  • Hip pain
  • Shoulder pain

Due to the incredible benefits of manual therapy, Dynamic Rehab PT incorporates manual therapy into 55% of all of our treatment plans.

How Dynamic Rehab PT Uses Manual Therapy

When our team starts seeing a patient, they begin conducting a thorough examination to identify the problem area or areas. They then use manual therapy to test the range of motion in the particular area and to pinpoint any trigger points or abnormally tense muscles. From there, the physical therapist will determine what kind of hands-on treatment the patient requires.

When many people go to physical therapy for the first time, they may expect their care plan to include a variety of exercises and stretches to treat their problem area. While these exercises and stretches are very beneficial, it has been proven that when combined with manual therapy, patients experience faster results.

Postural Assessment

Posture is how the body presents itself. Good posture cannot be defined by a rigid formula as it is typically considered to be the natural and comfortable bearings or a normal, healthy body. Maintaining a good standing and sitting posture helps to promote the correct and healthy functioning of the body’s organs and increases the efficiency of the muscles. Additionally, good posture is important for breathing and spine strength. Proper posture offers the following benefits to the body:

  • It keeps bones and joints correctly aligned so that muscles can be used properly
  • It helps decrease the abnormal wearing of joint surfaces that could later result in arthritis
  • It decreases the stress on the ligaments that hold the joints and spine together
  • It prevents the spine from becoming fixed in abnormal positions
  • It prevents fatigue by ensuring that the muscles are used more efficiently
  • It prevents stress or overuse problems
  • It prevents backache and muscular pain
  • It contributes to an overall strong and healthy appearance

Maintaining good posture is important because bad posture can cause anything from bodily pain to frequent headaches and TMJ. By understanding what the signs of bad posture are, you can correct it on your own or with the help of a professional.

Dynamic Rehab PT provides its patients with the Better Posture Program. This program involves a postural assessment where specific muscle imbalances will be identified and corrective actions will take place. An important part of creating long-term postural change is education and awareness. It is all about breaking bad habits and this takes time and persistence. We will provide you with an understanding of what these habits are and the techniques to break them.

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