Relieving Your Pain with Manual Therapy
Manual Therapy: The Safe, Non-Invasive, and Effective Way to Treat Pain
Are you recovering from a recent injury or surgical procedure? Are you experiencing the aches and pains from an underlying condition? If so, manual therapy can provide you with relief.
At Focus Physical Therapy, our physical therapists have several tools in their arsenal to relieve your pain while simultaneously improving your physical function, including manual therapy. For more information on how our manual therapy services can aid you in your recovery process, contact our physical therapists to schedule an appointment.
Is manual therapy safe?
The short answer – is yes! Manual therapy is non-invasive and it doesn’t involve any harmful drugs or surgical correction. Instead, it involves a variety of techniques aimed at moving your tendons, ligaments, and joints in ways that facilitate pain relief and healing.
At Focus Physical Therapy, our physical therapists are highly-trained medical professionals who understand both the capabilities and limitations of your body. Many of our patients even notice relief after just one manual therapy session!
What exactly is manual therapy?
Manual therapy is also referred to as “hands-on therapy.” It is a specialized treatment performed by licensed physical therapists. At your initial appointment, one of our physical therapists may prescribe this treatment to you. The treatment is performed by manipulating joints and soft tissue with nothing more than the hands – no intimidating equipment or machines involved!
Manual therapy is used to reduce swelling, relieve pain, improve range of motion, decrease restriction, and mobilize joints. Our physical therapist may conduct targeted techniques and stretches to the affected part(s) of your body, as well as manual therapy techniques, to get the results you seek.
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What are the different types of manual therapy?
There are several different types of manual therapy. The most common are:
Mobilization/manipulation
If you have recently sustained an injury, you may experience severe pain. This is typically the result of a restricted joint. Fortunately, our physical therapists are trained in loosening restricted joints by applying pressure at a low velocity. Mobilization and manipulation techniques are safe, effective, and painless. They also allow for the breakdown of the affected joint’s barrier, resulting in an improved range of motion.
Soft tissue mobilization
Soft tissue mobilization treatments performed by a physical therapist are a bit different than those you might receive at a spa. They are meant to be more therapeutic in nature, rather than relaxing. At Focus Physical Therapy, we use soft tissue mobilization treatments as a way to manipulate the soft tissues. This is done through deep pressure and rhythmic stretching, allowing our physical therapist to find and mobilize areas of your body that are heavily restricted. By doing this, our physical therapist is able to break up any scar tissue or adhesions in the affected body part(s).
Manual traction
Manual traction is done by applying gentle pressure to certain areas of the body, in order to stretch it out. One of the most common areas to receive manual traction is the neck; however, our physical therapist may also recommend it for different areas of your body. When manual traction is performed as a treatment for neck pain, our physical therapist will have you lie down on your back while they gently stretch the spaces between your vertebrae. This is done by taking the base of the skull in one hand and the chin in the other while applying slight pressure. Manual traction treatments are generally done for 5-60 seconds at a time.
Contact Focus Physical Therapy to get started
Our physical therapists are some of the most dedicated professionals in the area. They are movement experts, equipped in diagnosing and treating painful conditions. After your physical evaluation, our physical therapist will create an individualized treatment plan based on your specific needs. Some targeted exercises may focus on improving strength and balance, while others may focus more on improving your range of motion. All exercises and treatments will be based around the same goal – improving your overall function.
Manual therapy is a crucial part of a recovery plan, as it helps to reduce inflammation, relieve pain and swelling, and increase your range of motion. If you are interested in learning more about the hands-on approach of manual therapy, contact our physical therapy practice today at Santa Clarita, CA. At Focus Physical Therapy, our mission is to get you back to your active life as quickly as possible!
Your Next Steps…
Request An Appointment
Receive A Custom Treatment Plan
Work Hard and Progress In Your Recovery
Recover & Enjoy Life Pain-Free!