What is Manual Physical Therapy?

Manual physical therapy is a physical therapy technique that involves the passive movement of soft tissue and joints. It is a common physical therapy technique which can help increase the range of motion in a patient’s joints. Musculoskeletal issues are some of the most common issues patients suffer from when visiting a physical therapist.

These issues can affect people of all ages and can be caused by everything from previous injuries and poor posture to old age and even birth defects. Although manual therapy is a common physical therapy technique, it still requires a trained and certified physical therapist to correctly perform.

Manual physical therapy can help improve a patient’s joint mobility, including knees, elbows, and other joints. Soft tissue or joint restrictions are generally the most common reasons why a patient may be unable to fully move a limb, such as an elbow. Through the use of specific hand placements and applied force, a physical therapist performs a kind of “massage” that can help normalize joints and soft tissues healthy motion.

Continue reading to learn more about manual therapy including who it can benefit, how it works, and how effective it can be. Manual therapy has helped countless patients regain mobility and improve their quality of life. Be sure to contact Premier Therapy Solutions for further assistance or request an appointment with our Boca Raton therapist today.

Dynamics Of Manual Therapy

Manual physical therapy helps patients by addressing four factors involved in improving joints and soft tissues movement. The four factors addressed are neurophysiologically, mechanically, psychologically, and biochemically. A physical therapist will use the passive movement of joints to stretch joints, ligaments, and muscles in the affected areas.

Over the course of time, these passive movements can help break down adhesions and realign scar tissue. These issues are the most common reasons for a limited range of motion in physical therapy patients. The physical therapist can also assist the patient in performing specific exercises that maintain and support further improvements in the range of motion.

Breaking down scar tissue and adhesions are not the only improvements that manual therapy can improve in patients. There is some evidence that shows manual therapy can help reduce and even stop pain in areas that have been injured. Furthermore, manual therapy gives patients newfound confidence in the result of their therapy.

Who Can Benefit From Manual Therapy?

Manual physical therapy benefits patients who have a lack of full joint mobility or who suffer from painful joint movement. This means that patients of all ages who suffer from these issues can use manual therapy to improve their health and quality of life. Despite the fact that manual therapy has no recorded contraindications, it is important for a qualified physical therapist to take certain precautions.

Some patients suffer from painful joint mobility or a lack of joint mobility because of diseases or other afflictions, including muscle holding, hemarthrosis, hypermobile joints, or joint replacement.

How Effective Is Manual Therapy?

Manual therapy has been heavily researched over the course time by a wide range of experts and professionals in the field. Research has consistently shown that manual physical therapy can help to reduce pain, increase overall function, and improve the quality of life for patients. For these reasons, manual therapy continues to be a popular technique used by professional physical therapists in Boca Raton and all over the world.

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Manual Physical Therapy in Boca Raton