Manual Therapy: Going Beyond Traditional PT

Breaking new ground in order to offer patients the most advanced and effective treatments available has been at the foundation of Step & Spine Physical Therapy for nearly ten years. 

The vision many people have when thinking about physical therapy is one akin to a fitness trainer. True, physical therapy does involve incorporating specific exercises to build strength and improve mobility, but in the right facility, physical therapy goes well beyond that. 

Utilizing hands-on treatment options is part of the secret sauce that makes Step & Spine Physical Therapy different than other clinics. Many of their physical therapists have taken advanced, post-graduate training in order to provide patients with a variety of manual therapy treatments. Let’s break down exactly what manual therapy means and how it can help. 

What is Manual Therapy?

In this centuries-old practice, physical therapists and other clinicians either directly or indirectly target specific joints, muscles, and/or connective tissue to facilitate a biomechanical and/or neurophysiological changes. It has been proven to be an effective treatment in the recovery of function when used as a multimodal approach and has been shown to improve outcomes. Manual therapy treatments often include:

• Massage
• Ultrasound
• Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization
• Cupping
• Joint mobilization
• Myofascial release
• Electrical stimulation
• Heat and/or ice therapy
• Kinesiology taping

How Does Manual Therapy Help?

Depending on the injury or dysfunction, a physical therapist makes the choice to include certain manual therapy techniques to enhance the outcome of traditional treatments such as exercise. Expected results can include decreased inflammation, reduction in pain, increased range of motion, improving joint stability and mobility, and restoring normal movement patterns. 

Our emphasis is on manual therapy with supervised exercise and education to deliver a comprehensive treatment program that provides lasting results. Our goal is to help patients get back to the activities they enjoy most safely. If you are interested in learning more about manual therapy, visit our website here.