Manual Therapy
How Can Manual Therapy Help Relieve Your Pain?
If you’ve recently been injured or undergone a surgical procedure and are feeling pain and discomfort, you might be at a loss for what direction you should turn to for relief. Chances are that manual physical therapy could really help you out! If you’re worried or unsure about the benefits of manual therapy, let us ease your mind a bit.
Many of our first-time physical therapy patients come to their initial appointment thinking “This is going to be even more painful than my current condition.” That is not the case at all! Our San Marcos, CA physical therapist has several tools and treatment techniques at the ready that are meant to reduce or even relieve your pain, while simultaneously improving your body’s function.
What can manual therapy do for me?
Manual therapy is just one of many forms of therapy a physical therapist can tap into in order to mobilize soft tissues and joints. This particular form of treatment assists with reducing inflammation, decreasing restriction, and increasing your range of motion. Our physical therapist at HealthWest Physical Therapy have all received extensive education and training in manual therapy techniques and are capable of creating a customized treatment fit for you and your specific needs.
Different kinds of manual therapy
Manual physical therapy techniques may include, but are not limited to:
Soft Tissue Massage
If you’ve ever had a massage at a spa, you might be pleasantly surprised to find out that with certain manual therapy treatments, massages are included! However, physical therapy massages are a bit different than the ones you might find at a resort. These massages are more therapeutically focused and take place with a medical intention. Our San Marcos, CA physical therapist use massage treatments to break up scar tissue and adhesions caused by inflammation or injury. This is accomplished through rhythmic stretching and deep pressure, allowing them to seek out and mobilize restricted parts of your body that might be causing significant pain. These techniques also assist with improving blood flow and circulation to the affected muscles and soft tissues.
Mobilization
If you have a restricted joint as a result of receiving an injury, there is no question you have probably felt severe pain. Our physical therapist is trained in mobilization techniques to restore restricted joints by applying pressure. These techniques are totally effective, painless, and safe. They allow for your range of motion to be increased, as well as the improvement of the restricted joint’s mobility.
Manual traction
With manual traction techniques, our physical therapist will apply gentle pressure to a certain area of the body in order to stretch out and relax the soft tissues and rehabilitate natural movement. The neck is the most common area that manual traction is applied to, but it can also be used on other parts of the body, including the arms, back, and legs.
Is manual therapy safe?
Yes, manual therapy is safe and non-invasive. It does not require you to have expensive surgeries or take harmful, possibly addictive medications. Our physical therapist will use many different modalities and techniques to help move your joints, ligaments and tendons in ways that will promote healing and soothe pain. These procedures will also reduce scar tissue and minimize inflammation.
Our San Marcos, CA physical therapist is extensively trained medical professionals who can recognize the limitations of your body, but also appreciate its capabilities. It is very common for patients to notice better functionality and improvements after just one manual therapy appointment.
Will manual therapy be a part of my care plan?
As previously stated, our physical therapist in San Marcos, CA is professionally trained to diagnose and treat movement disorders and pain conditions. These disorders can often happen after a patient has surgery. For example, a patient who has undergone total joint replacement may find themselves in need of an appointment with a physical therapist to make sure they have a safe, smooth recovery to transition back into their normal lifestyle!
It’s also not uncommon for physicians to refer patients to physical therapy after they receive an injury, get involved in an auto-accident, or become diagnosed with a specific illness. Anything that causes you to feel weak or unable to function properly on a physical level would be grounds for seeing a physical therapist.
It is likely that your specific treatment plan will include multiple kinds of therapy, all aimed at helping a certain part of your body function as normal. There are exercises that may focus on improving your strength and balance, and there are some that will increase your range of motion. Manual therapy is a critical part of any treatment plan, as it greatly helps to cut down on inflammation and swelling.
Get started with manual therapy today
Contact Us Today at San Marcos, CA Center to learn more about the benefits of manual therapy. Our dedicated physical therapist is waiting with open doors and open arms to meet you and get you back to living the active lifestyle you deserve!
