Manual therapy
Manual therapy is a specialized method of physiotherapy based on the biomechanics and function of the human musculoskeletal system. It is a working method based on a detailed examination of the patient, followed by manual treatment.
Treatment involves working with all joints, ligaments and muscles. Treatment techniques include soft tissue and neuromuscular therapy, joint mobilizations, manipulations and specialized exercises.
What is manual therapy?
Manual therapy is a therapeutic and diagnostic method of assisting in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, particularly in spinal diseases and arthritis. It is used in both orthopedics and rehabilitation, as well as rheumatology and neurology. Manual therapy aims to restore proper joint mobility and minimize pain. By applying pressure to appropriate points on the body, using various soft tissue therapy techniques, the physiotherapist reaches painful areas and restores muscle balance. Manual therapy can be helpful in treating joints that lack adequate mobility and range of motion. This restriction can cause discomfort, pain, altering normal posture and movement patterns. The therapist reduces muscle tension, increases muscle flexibility and restores mobility to stiff joints to return the patient to normal movement without pain
What are the benefits of manual therapy?
Manual therapy treatment is used wherever there is pain and restriction of movement in a joint. The fastest results are seen in the case of tissue or joint overload conditions, but also in post-surgical conditions it brilliantly accelerates and improves the functioning of the musculoskeletal system, and is invaluable in orthopedic rehabilitation.
Manual therapy has a great advantage because the treatment process is developed individually depending on the patient’s condition and ailment. Depending on the problem, the therapist selects treatment methods using: massage, stretching, manipulation and joint mobilization, trigger point therapy, neuromobilization or soft tissue mobilization. Manual therapy is also an ideal complement to exercise and patient education.
Benefits of manual therapy:
- reduces pain,
- Increases joint mobility and range of motion,
- Improving tissue flexibility and mobility,
- reduce soft tissue inflammation,
- reduces muscle tension.
Effectiveness of manual therapy
Manual therapy encompasses a large range of diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, but should only be performed by trained professionals to produce satisfactory results. A manual therapist is a highly qualified person who can properly diagnose and treat disorders and post-traumatic conditions. Achieving the desired results – reducing pain and increasing the range of joint mobility – is possible only when treatments are performed regularly.
Indications for the use of manual therapy:
- Various types of spinal conditions and pains,
- sciatica,
- Chronic headaches and neck pain,
- migraine pains,
- Joint pain in the upper and lower extremities,
- shoulder sciatica,
- tissue overload conditions,
- postural defects,
- Muscle tension disorders in the pelvic area,
- sleep disorders,
- Numbness in the limbs and fingers,
- Tensions resulting from stress and exhaustion,
- Frequenturia.
