Manual Physical Therapy and Healing

If you have ever had to attend physical therapy after an orthopedic surgery, you’re probably familiar with orthopedic manual physical therapy. Defined as “any ‘hands-on’ treatment provided by a physical therapist”, the goal of manual therapy is to restore range of motion, improve muscle activation, and improve mobility and function of the targeted muscles.²

One of the most appealing aspects of manual physical therapy is the affect it has on pain management. Soft tissue mobilization is the technique that decreases muscle tension through restoring motion to a joint by breaking up fibrous muscle tissue (scar tissue).¹ Soft tissue mobilization is achieved by placing a traction force, such as slow, steady pressure, on the injured area. This technique is ideal for patients suffering from excess scar tissue who are seeking to restore the normal texture to the injured tissue and reduce the pain associated with scar tissue.

Manual Physical Therapy of the hand

If you have spent much time in the exercise science or physical therapy world, you’re probably familiar with this next technique, myofascial release. Myofascial release benefits individuals suffering from myofascial pain syndrome, or even those who may just have tightness due to exercise or injury.⁴  One of the most common ways to achieve myofascial release is by using a foam roller to pinpoint specific “trigger points” within the myofascial tissues.³ Myofascial release is successful in treating muscle pain by helping to relax tight muscles by increasing pressure on the trigger point until the entire muscle relaxes.

Foam roller used in myofascial release

Whether you suffer from chronic muscle tightness and soreness or are trying to regain motion in your joints and muscles after a surgery, manual physical therapy could possibly be beneficial to you.

References:

1Daul, R. (2006, January 13). Specific Manual Physical Therapy Techniques. Retrieved March 10, 2017, from http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/physical-therapy/specific-manual-physical-therapy-techniques

2Gerstell, F. (2017). Manual Therapy. Retrieved March 10, 2017, from http://www.physio-pedia.com/Manual_Therapy

3Martin, A. (2013, March 13). What Is Myofascial Tissue? Retrieved March 23, 2017, from http://patch.com/iowa/ankeny/bp--what-is-myofascial-tissue

4Staff, P. (2016, July 14). Manipulation/Mobilization. Retrieved March 10, 2017, from http://www.apta.org/StateIssues/Manipulation/