Manual Therapy

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Manual therapy is defined as​ a clinical approach utilizing skilled, specific hands-on techniques, including but not limited to manipulation/mobilization to diagnose and treat soft tissues and joint structures for the purpose of modulating pain, increasing range of motion, reducing or eliminating soft tissue inflammation, inducing relaxation, improving contractile and non-contractile tissue repair, extensibility, and/or stability. Facilitating movement, and improving function. It can also be defined as procedures by which the hands directly contact the body to treat the articulations and/or soft tissues.

 

 

Most Common Therapy Techniques used in the clinic work:

 

Neuromuscular Integration & Structural Alignment

 

Neuromuscular Integration & Structural Alignment, also commonly referred to as NISA, aims to stretch, loosen and soften the body's fibrous tissues that surround the muscles and organs in our bodies. This stretching and loosening is important in order to restore function and maintain muscle elasticity. 

 

Our bodys fascia shortens, hardens and causes us pain mainly due to sloppy posture. Undesirable posture can also result in other problems such as shortness of breath. It can also painfully restrict the way we move and cause chronic joint and muscle pain if posture is not corrected over a long period of time. 

 

Neuromuscular integration and structural alignment is a beneficial treatment that starts with improving the posture. In essence, this therapy does exactly what it suggests it restores our proper body alignment  in order to relieve pain, restricted breathing and restricted movement. 

 

 

Joint Mobilization Techniques

 

Joint mobilization, performed by a physical therapist, is a gentle and safe alternative to joint manipulation, performed by a chiropractor. Joint mobilization is done when a bone, or individual vertebrae, is moved in order to release painful tension, stiffness, chronic pain, and in some cases to improve the range of motion of a joint. 

The actual joint mobilization is performed to improve mobility in areas that currently have a limited range of motion due to any type of strain, stiffness, tightness, injury, paralysis or chronic pain. The most common joint mobilization is performed on the neck, when its rotated to its full range of motion and then back in sudden thrusts. 

The client must remain calm and loose as the mobilization is performed, as often its accompanied by a pop when the tension is released in the joint.  A joint manipulation is often followed by a feeling of release. 

Joint mobilization strokes consist of basic and advanced mobilizations, thrusts, as well as traction and gliding mobilizations. After the mobilization portion of the therapy is complete, complimentary treatments - such as certain stretching and strengthening exercises - are sometimes recommended as a preventative measure. 

If you book an appointment for joint mobilization, the physical therapist will perform a consultation before starting therapy. During the consultation the therapist will assess your blood, nerve supply, bone and muscles in the afflicted area. Its important for the therapist to conduct this initial consultation in order to decide if joint mobilization is safe.

Joint manipulation is typically safe to perform on most painful joint injuries, such as arthritis, however a professional should assess each patient before treatment commences. 

 

Integrative Manual Therapy

 

Integrative manual therapy consists of a combination of functional and structural forms of rehabilitation. The basic concept behind integrative manual therapy dictates that no part of the body functions independently, without being affected by its other parts. Therefore, integrative manual therapy sees the need to treat the entire body, not only the area of pain and the symptoms that are directly-related to a clients condition.

 

Integrative manual therapy was developed as a treatment method  based on the philosophy that the body is a self-healing organism. Therefore, integrative manual therapy gives patients the resources to heal themselves, with the professional help of an integrative manual therapist.

 

Integrated manual therapy addresses the healing process in an interconnected manner to heal one area of the body, all of its interconnected systems, tissues, joints and muscles must also be balanced. This will harmonize the entire body, leading to a total restoration of the body and mind. 

When a practitioner performs integrative manual therapy, they will apply gentle, non-invasive strokes to the body in order to encourage balance and the healing process. The gentle strokes applied by the therapist are more like a soft series of taps along the clients body. This is called listening with the hands and is the primary way that your integrative manual therapist will locate any problems in your skeletal structure the muscles, joints, bones and organs or in your bodys major systems such as the circulatory system, the immune system, the central nervous system, the gastro-intestinal system and the lymph system.

 

Kinesiology

 

Kinesiology is the study and the detailed understanding of how the human body works, moves and responds to mental messages. 

Kinesiologist examine the bodys muscular and structural factors - such as posture and gait in relation to the way the body moves under various situations such as when participating in sports, dance, fitness, at work and when performing every day activities. 

 

If you suffer from any type of physical pain or injury a kinesiologist can make recommendations about how to help the muscle heal by adapting lifestyle changes examples are proper posture, proper sitting and sleeping techniques and proper lifting. 

When a person seeks the help of a kinesiologist, the practitioner will study the client as a whole. This is because kinesiology theory suggests that the mind and body are inexplicitly linked and that one has a vital affect on the other. 

Kinesiology is affective in helping individuals who experience chronic injuries such as sports related strains; debilitating diseases such as Fibromyalgia; gastro-intestinal ailments such as irritable bowel syndrome, and even repetitive stress injuries such as neck, shoulder and back work-related pain. Overall, its the job of the kinesiologist to teach a person to move more effectively and with less pain.

Kinesiology as a science encompasses many physical disciplines such as anatomy, biomechanics, physiology, and mental behavior. Kinesiology as a therapy applies these sciences. During a kinesiology session the therapist will apply a gentle, light finger massage to various pressure points across the clients body, in order to relax and soothe affected muscles, tissues and joints.

 

Muscle Energy Technique

 

Muscle energy technique ( MET) is based on the principle of reciprocal inhibition, a theory that explains that muscles on one side of a joint will always relax to accommodate the contraction of muscles on the other side of that joint when indirect pressure is applied. MET is often applied to patients who suffer from muscle spasms.

 

Muscle energy techniques are applied to a patient in order to lengthen shortened or spastic muscles, to improve weakened ligament and muscle strength, and to improve range of motion. This procedure is performed when a patient is asked to contract a muscle for approximately 5-seconds against an anti-force applied by the therapist. The muscle contraction is performed by the client 2 or 3 times in a row in the hopes to stretch the muscle further each time.

 

The theory behind MET suggests that if a joint isnt used to its full range of motion, its function will lessen and it will be at risk of suffering strains and injuries. This form of muscular therapy makes use of a patient's own muscle energy while the therapist presents a stationary surface (or anti-force) the patient will contract their muscle against in order to stretch the muscle and joint to its full potential. 

Muscle energy techniques can be applied safely to almost any joint in the body. Many athletes use MET as a preventative measure to guard against future muscle and joint injury. However, its mainly used by individuals who have a limited range of motion due to back, neck and shoulder pain, scoliosis, sciatica, unsymmetrical legs, hips or arms  or to treat chronic muscle pain, stiffness or injury. 

 

 

Myofascial Release

 

Myofascial Release is a gentle therapy, consisting of a mixture of light stretching and massage work. During a session, the therapist will apply hands-on massage  in order to release tension from the fibrous bands of the muscles, bones, nerves and joints, by unblocking any scar tissue or adhesions due to injury in the muscles and surrounding tissues. 

 

The therapist will often use light to moderate traction and twisting strokes to apply the appropriate tension on the soft tissue, and to achieve a full reflex range of the muscle. This slow and subtle technique can be used to unblock fascia and muscle throughout the body restoring total physical harmony. 

Myofascial release is a safe therapy that can be used as a preventative method or to promote the healing of an injured, stiff or painful muscle. However, this therapy has also been affective in treating patients with sloppy posture, chronic fatigue, severe tension and anxiety, as well as repetitive stress injuries of the muscular-skeletal system. 

Myofascial release therapy is applied hands-on, in kneading-style strokes that are meant to stretch, loosen, soften and lengthen muscle tissues. The strokes are applied with gentle pressure, and held for approximately 2-mintues in order for the stretch to have its full effect on the muscle. 

A typical Myofascial Release massage lasts an hour, and afterwards clients often rave about the total release of body tension they experience. This is why the treatment is often recommended to soothe a plethora of pain-associated conditions including migraine headaches, menstrual cramps, menopause-related pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, Fibromyalgia, whiplash and muscle spasms.

 

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation

 

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation ( PNF) is an advanced type of flexibility therapy. PNF is built on a series of exercises that focus on stretching; first contracting then relaxing, stiff or painful muscles in the body. 

Originally used as a rehabilitative therapy, PNF is very effective when it comes to improving flexibility, strength and range of motion in a damaged or stiff muscle. Its often used to treat lower back, neck and shoulder pain associated with poor posture. 

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation exercises are meant to re-educate clients on the safest and most natural ways to move their bodies. 

PNF therapy encourages body-mind awareness for example to think consciously of the safest ways to move, as well as estimating the approximate force needed to perform a task beforehand. This is because, oftentimes, the human body exerts far more strength than needed to perform simple tasks. On top of that, when a task is performed improperly the body risks injury. Once PNF is learned, the client will think before moving. Eventually they will notice an increase in their range of motion, balance, muscle strength, endurance and flexibility.

When PNF exercises are performed, the client is asked to contract the muscle against static resistance (usually supplied by the therapist). The client is guided through a series of muscle contractions followed by periods of muscle relaxation. Clients are also shown demonstrations of proper movements, followed by a session of partner-assisted stretching. Afterwards the client is given visual examples and movement feedback is provided by the therapist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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