Manual Physical Therapy

Many patients arrive at their first physical therapy appointment expecting to receive hot packs, ultrasound and instructions on how to complete a series of exercises. These modalities are warranted in many instances and most therapists would agree that exercise is needed to help restore muscle imbalances. However, many therapists now approach the restoration of function from a different perspective. These therapists are interested in why a muscle isn’t functioning properly and view exercise not as the driving mode of recovery but as a complement to manual therapy.

Manual physical therapy is a specialized form of physical therapy delivered with the hands as opposed to a device or machine. In manual therapy, practitioners use their hands to put pressure on muscle tissue and manipulate joints in an attempt to decrease pain caused by muscle spasms, muscle tension and joint dysfunction.

The following treatments are examples of what your therapist might use during your session.

• Mobilization techniques, which use measured movements of varying speed (slow and gentle), force (gentle to forceful) and distance (called 'amplitude') to twist, pull or push bones and joints into position. This can help loosen tight tissues around a joint, reduce pain in a joint and surrounding tissue and help with flexibility and alignment.


• Soft tissue work, including massage, applies pressure to the soft tissues of the body such as the muscles. This pressure can help relax muscles, increase circulation, break up scar tissue and ease pain in the soft tissues.