Manual therapy, also known as manipulative therapy, is a physical treatment that is typically used in conjunction with traditional physical therapy techniques. Your physical therapist will use their hands to apply pressure on muscle tissue and/or manipulate joints of the body, as opposed to using a machine or device. Manual therapy can be quite effective for treating both acute and chronic pain.
The goal of manual therapy techniques is to relax tense muscles and restricted joints in an effort to decrease pain and improve range of motion. Generally, manual therapy techniques refer to “hands on” work that is performed by physical therapists, and typically includes the use of three types of movement:.
