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By Frank J. Scerbo, PT, DPT, MS, CSCS///
If you’ve had physical therapy before, some types of Manual physical therapy (PT) were likely integrated into your overall treatment plan. As we move through the busy holiday season, with all its activity and stresses, we are prone to a variety of musculoskeletal and neuromuscular conditions. So let’s take this opportunity for a closer look at some of the specialized hands-on techniques used by Scerbo PT therapists to alleviate pain, improve mobility, and enhance the body’s natural healing processes.
Common Types of Manual Therapy
- Soft tissue massage: Stroking or gliding motions performed over a muscular or connective tissue area that help to improve tissue relaxation, mobility, or pain in the region
- Joint manipulation: A quick, thrust-style technique that takes a joint beyond its normal range of motion to improve mobility and help reduce pain
- Joint mobilization: Slower, repetitive oscillations within a joint’s limits that promote mobility and increase the range of motion
- Friction massage: A form of massage that is meant to temporarily increase inflammation and break up scar tissue in an effort to promote healing and reduce pain
- Passive stretching: Extending or lengthening a muscle or muscles to improve range of motion and increase flexibility
Benefits of Manual Therapy
Whether it’s passively moving your joints, massaging a body region, or stretching a muscle, manual therapy allows your physical therapist to harness their knowledge of anatomy and pathology while using their own hands to treat your specific condition. Among the many conditions that may benefit from manual PT are:
- Post-surgery rehab
- Acute injury rehab
- Osteoarthritis
- Neck & shoulder pain
- Plantar fasciitis
- Chronic pain
- Headaches
Your Scerbo physical therapist will evaluate your condition and determine which hands-on techniques may be useful for you as part of an individual therapy plan. You’re in good hands with a skilled Scerbo physical therapist, and you don’t need to wait for the holidays to take a physical toll. Contact us today for an appointment!