What is Manual Therapy?
Manual therapy is an individualised form of treatment focusing on skilled, hands-on techniques to treat soft tissue injuries. It aims to alleviate pain, improve mobility, and enhance overall day-to-day function. At Physio & Sole Clinic, our physiotherapists are proficient in manual therapy, which can help clients to achieve immediate improvements in their symptoms.
Manual therapy techniques include:
- Soft Tissue Mobilisation: Reduces pain and discomfort, releases tight muscles, improves circulation and scar tissue mobility.
- Joint Mobilisation/ Manipulation: Precise, controlled movements help to loosen up joints, which in turn relieves symptoms, improves flexibility and mobility.
- Myofascial Release (MFR): Targets muscle adhesions to restore tissue health and reduce tension.
- Passive Stretching: Enhances flexibility of muscles, which in turn reduces pain, improves range of motion and reduces the risk of injury.
- Trigger Point Release: Eases pain and reduces muscle tone by addressing muscle knots and tension.
This hands-on treatment is designed to restore natural movement and reduce discomfort, helping patients regain their active lifestyles.
What Can Manual Therapy Be Used For?
Manual therapy is highly effective for a wide range of symptoms including:
- Joint Stiffness: Manual therapy restores mobility in joints and reduces discomfort caused by hypomobile joints.
- Muscle Tightness: Reduces muscle tone which helps to alleviate symptoms of tightness or discomfort.
- Pain: Alleviates persistent pain resulting from joint or soft tissue problems.
- Posture-Related Discomfort: Addresses soreness and tension in muscles caused by poor posture in fixed positions or while doing heavy lifting or repetitive tasks.
- Nerve Symptoms: Relieves nerve-related symptoms such as numbness, pins and needles and weakness as a result of nerve compression in the neck or back.
Manual physiotherapy provides immediate and targeted relief to the area being treated, which provides a window of opportunity for you to work on your rehabilitation exercises effectively. A combination of both will help to create sustained improvements in your condition.
How can a Physiotherapist help?
At Physio & Sole Clinic, our experienced physiotherapists combine manual therapy with personalised treatment plans to achieve optimal outcomes. Here’s how we can help:
- Restore Mobility: Skilled techniques relieve stiffness and improve joint flexibility.
- Reduce Pain: Hands-on approaches address discomfort at its source, providing lasting relief.
- Tailored Treatment: We assess your condition and customise a plan suited to your unique needs.
- Comprehensive Care: Combining manual therapy with rehabilitative exercises, electrotherapy modalities and lifestyle advice ensure a holistic recovery.
Our team specialises in treating injuries (including acute and overuse injuries), degenerative conditions, chronic pain, neurological disorders and other conditions that prevent you from participating in your desired activity. With our interventions aimed to address your impairments, you will be able to recover quickly and return to your desired activity of choice.
Why Choose Physio & Sole Clinic?
At Physio & Sole Clinic, our highly trained physiotherapists specialise in advanced manual therapy techniques tailored to your unique needs. We adopt an evidence-based and holistic approach to ensure effective treatment and recovery. Conveniently located, we prioritise patient-centered care, making your journey to pain-free living as seamless and comfortable as possible.
Click here to schedule an appointment with us and start your journey to recovery today!
Frequently Asked Questions on Manual Therapy
Manual therapy is generally safe when performed by a trained physiotherapist. However, temporary soreness, mild bruising or fatigue may occur after treatment. These symptoms should resolve within a few days.
Some people experience immediate relief, while others may need multiple sessions to see significant improvement. The effectiveness depends on the severity and duration of the condition. Your physiotherapist will regularly communicate with you and evaluate your progress, while aligning with your goals.
Manual therapy is generally not painful, though some techniques may cause mild discomfort as they target tight or inflamed areas. Our physiotherapist will work within your comfort level and adjust techniques as needed to ensure a positive experience. Some soreness may also be expected after treatment, similar to post-exercise soreness.
