What is Manual Therapy and How Does it Work?
- sam17903
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Manual therapy refers to therapeutic techniques performed by different health practitioners, aimed at decreasing pain, or modifying function thought to be related to someone's pain, injury or performance issue. While not every client requires manual therapy interventions as part of their injury or pain management plan, it can be a useful adjunct in many cases. To see the video version and a demonstration of some of the techniques we use, check out this instagram clip:
Manual therapies include massage, mobilisation & manipulation.
While some manual therapies may be passive, others, such as mobilisation with movement, involve the client by performing active movements as part of the treatment.
Some of the strongest evidence for manual therapy is in the treatment of cervicogenic and tension headache, acute lower back pain and knee osteoarthritis.
The mechanisms by which manual therapy improve symptoms are the subject of much debate, but the most recent consensus regarding manual therapies categorises some basic umbrellas
Clinical interaction:
The effect of having a supportive Individual provide empathy while at the same time apply pressure and touch to the skin, which is a highly innervated (has many nerve endings) organ.
Tissue specific:
Change in the tissue temperature and pliability of the muscle, fascia and other tissues.
Nerve related:
Decrease in the protective muscle guarding around the area) & an increase in pain inhibition mechanisms in the brain.
Contextual:
The beliefs and expectations of the client and the confidence of the practitioner.
Often different mechanisms may be operating in tandem.
An argument against the use of manual therapy is that it decreases client autonomy and promotes reliance on the practitioner, however there is no evidence to support this.
Manual therapy is rarely used as a standalone treatment, but is often used as an adjunct to decrease symptoms and increase the effectiveness of other treatments, and optimise client outcomes.
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