Manual Therapy is a specialized form of physiotherapy delivered with the hands and is used in conjunction with conventional physiotherapy. University-trained physiotherapists who have taken an extensive series of post-graduate courses provide manual therapy.
Manual Therapy involves hands-on assessment and treatment of spinal and extremity joints and muscles that lack adequate mobility and range of motion. This may involve joint mobilizations, joint manipulation and soft tissue mobilization.
- Joint mobilizations: are gentle, rhythmic, passive movement.
- Joint Manipulations: are skilled, passive, quick movements.
- Soft tissue mobilizations: are applied to the muscles, tendons and ligaments. Those may include: assisted stretch, deep tissue massage, acupressure trigger point therapy etc.
these joint techniques are utilized for pain reduction and to restore movement function of stiff joints. Soft tissue mobilizations can increase circulation, break down scar tissue, and ease pain in the treated soft tissue.