March 1, 2016
What in the world is “Manual Therapy” ?
Hello again, Jacksonville
and friends beyond. Dr. Chris here today
reaching out via the Worldwide Web to describe a therapy that has probably been
around as long as man and pain have been.
Perhaps you have even recently heard the advertisements for therapies
such as manual therapy, myofascial release, the Graston technique, the Niel Asher technique of manual trigger point therapy, and who knows what else. In my office, we employ many types of
physical therapy modalities many which are very common throughout physical
medicine practices. You may already be
familiar with electrical muscle stimulation, ultrasound, hot and cold packs, exercise
therapy, and possibly massage therapy.
What you are likely not quite as familiar with would be “manual therapy” which is typically a specialized form of physical medicine/physical therapy delivered by the hands as opposed to by a passive device or machine. In some cases such as the Graston technique, a specialized smooth metallic instrument is utilized to render this form of therapy. In that sense, manual therapy patients receive hands on muscle tissue manipulation which is rendered in an attempt to decrease aches and pains caused by traumatic muscle strain, joint sprain, and other musculoskeletal conditions.
Here in my office manual therapy is typically rendered by a specially trained licensed massage therapist or a licensed chiropractic physician such as myself. What is most important to understand, is manual therapy is not the same as massage therapy that you may have experienced at a local Massage Envy or a private massage therapist. Massage therapy is also a form of soft tissue therapy but it typically involves less intense, less invasive stroking type techniques of effleurage, petrissage, or taponment. Manual therapy by contrast, involves restoring mobility of stiff joints and reducing muscle spasm in order to return a patient to more natural, pain free joint movement. Manual therapy techniques aim to relax tense back muscles and restricted joints in order to decrease pain, increase flexibility, increase muscular endurance, and to remove fibrotic scar tissue and adhesions with muscle. Scar tissue and fibrosis of the muscle, left untreated, can lead to chronic pain but can also lead to premature spinal degeneration. In a more specific post to follow, I will highlight specific forms of manual therapy techniques that you may find beneficial in treating some of your chronic aches and pains, or healing from an acute injury or trauma.
What you are likely not quite as familiar with would be “manual therapy” which is typically a specialized form of physical medicine/physical therapy delivered by the hands as opposed to by a passive device or machine. In some cases such as the Graston technique, a specialized smooth metallic instrument is utilized to render this form of therapy. In that sense, manual therapy patients receive hands on muscle tissue manipulation which is rendered in an attempt to decrease aches and pains caused by traumatic muscle strain, joint sprain, and other musculoskeletal conditions.
Here in my office manual therapy is typically rendered by a specially trained licensed massage therapist or a licensed chiropractic physician such as myself. What is most important to understand, is manual therapy is not the same as massage therapy that you may have experienced at a local Massage Envy or a private massage therapist. Massage therapy is also a form of soft tissue therapy but it typically involves less intense, less invasive stroking type techniques of effleurage, petrissage, or taponment. Manual therapy by contrast, involves restoring mobility of stiff joints and reducing muscle spasm in order to return a patient to more natural, pain free joint movement. Manual therapy techniques aim to relax tense back muscles and restricted joints in order to decrease pain, increase flexibility, increase muscular endurance, and to remove fibrotic scar tissue and adhesions with muscle. Scar tissue and fibrosis of the muscle, left untreated, can lead to chronic pain but can also lead to premature spinal degeneration. In a more specific post to follow, I will highlight specific forms of manual therapy techniques that you may find beneficial in treating some of your chronic aches and pains, or healing from an acute injury or trauma.
As always, I thank you for your time and attention and wish you a happy
and healthy day!
If you feel that you may be a candidate for a session of manual therapy,
please feel free to email jaxchiro@gmail.com
and I will help put you in touch with someone that can get you all fixed up.
Be well,
Christopher B. Renne, DC
Active Medical & Chiropractic
Be well,
Christopher B. Renne, DC
Active Medical & Chiropractic
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