A Hands-On Approach: Effectively Treating Pain With Manual Therapy
Have you recently sustained an injury? Are you recovering from a surgical procedure? Is your illness or ailment causing you aches and pains? If so, you would likely benefit from manual therapy treatments.
Patients who are unfamiliar with physical therapy may expect manual therapies to be painful or uncomfortable, due to the painful nature of their condition. However, while some conditions may require more intense mobilization, that is very rarely the case. Our therapists at Canyon Sports Therapy are trained in manual therapy techniques that are intended to increase mobility, improve function, and decrease pain. To learn more about how our manual therapy services can aid in your recovery, contact Canyon Sports Therapy today to schedule your appointment.
Manual therapy explained:
Manual therapy is a specialized treatment performed by licensed physical therapists to help improve the patient’s pain experience. During this treatment, your physical therapist will mobilize joints or soft tissues, using either their hands or instruments to aid the mobilization.
Joint mobilization is performed in order to achieve more fluid joint mechanics, improved joint mobility, and range of motion. These types of manual therapies include:
- Manual traction
- Accessory glides
- Joint mobilization and manipulation
Manual therapy is used as a way to relieve pain, reduce swelling, decrease restriction, improve range of motion, and restore healthy joint movement. In order to do so, your physical therapist will conduct targeted tissue stretches to the affected part(s) of your body.
Soft tissue mobilization can help decrease tenderness, tightness, high tone, and pain inhibition of the muscles and surrounding tissues. Manual therapies can result in improved blood flow, decreased soreness, decreased swelling, improved range of motion, increased strength or force output, and faster recovery! Our physical therapists at Canyon Sports Therapy are trained in joint mobilization and manipulation, manual stretching, and several types of soft tissue mobilization including:
- Manual Massage (effleurage, petrissage, myofascial release, deep tissue massage)
- Trigger Point Release
- Graston Technique or IASTM (Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization)
- Cupping and/or Cupping Massage
- Ice Massage
How safe is manual therapy?
Manual therapy is a non-invasive treatment option that doesn’t require any harmful pain-management medications. Your physical therapist will use a variety of techniques aimed at moving your tendons, ligaments, and joints including manipulation to the cervical spine in ways that facilitate pain relief and healing.
Our physical therapists at Canyon Sports Therapy are highly-trained medical professionals who understand both the capabilities and limitations of your body. In fact, you may notice relief and/or improvement after just one session of manual therapy!
How is manual therapy performed?
There are several different types of manual therapy to help relieve tension, decrease pain, and mobilize the joints and muscles. Some of the most common include, but are not limited to:
- Manual traction. Manual traction is done by applying a 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, your physical therapist may also recommend it for different areas of your body. When manual traction is performed as a treatment for neck pain, your 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 5-10 seconds at a time.
- Accessory glides. Joint movement which promotes the restoration of the rolling and gliding movements your joints normally function with.
- High velocity low amplitude & Low velocity High amplitude Mobilization. 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 both high and low velocity. Mobilization and manipulation techniques are safe, effective, and painless. They also allow for a breakdown of the affected joint’s barrier, resulting in an improved range of motion.
- Massage. Massage 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 Canyon Sports Therapy, we use therapeutic massage treatments as a way to manipulate the soft tissues. This is done through deep pressure and rhythmic stretching, allowing your physical therapist to find and mobilize areas of your body that are heavily restricted. By doing this, your physical therapist is able to break up any scar tissue or adhesions in the affected body part(s).
- Lymphatic drainage. Lymphedema is a condition that causes swelling in the arms and legs, due to a blockage in the lymphatic system. It is typically a concern for those who have undergone complex surgical procedures. If you are suffering from lymphedema, one of our experienced physical therapists can perform manual lymphatic drainage by applying light pressure (similar to a massage) on the affected arm or leg, in order to encourage the drainage of fluid, or “lymph.” Lymphatic drainage is typically followed by compression, in order to reduce swelling. We may also utilize compression/ice therapy simultaneously with our “Game Ready” cold therapy system.
How can I get started on manual therapy treatments?
Our highly trained physical therapists are movement experts, equipped in diagnosing and treating painful conditions and disorders. Many of the disorders they treat occur following surgical procedures, especially a total joint replacement. However, physical therapy is also an effective treatment method for injuries, accidents, or illnesses – essentially, anything that makes you feel weak and unable to function at your optimum physical level.
At Canyon Sports Therapy will design a personalized treatment plan for you that will likely include several different therapies, in order to improve your overall function. For example, some targeted exercises may focus on improving your strength or range of motion, while others may focus more on improving your balance and healthy movement. Manual therapy is a crucial part of a recovery plan, as it helps to reduce pain and swelling, minimize inflammation, and increase your range of motion. If you are interested in learning more about the hands-on approach of manual therapy, Contact Us today at our center in Holladay, UT. At Canyon Sports Therapy, we are dedicated to treating your pain and helping you get active once again! We are easily accessible from Salt Lake City, Sandy, Murray, Cottonwood Heights and the resorts including Little and Big Cottonwood Canyons.