Are you dealing with persistent back pain? Do you find yourself trying to stretch out your neck after a long day’s work? Have you noticed a recurring twinge in your knee? There are many ways and reasons we might experience musculoskeletal pain, and physiotherapy is an effective, drug-free way of managing it–as is manual therapy. Curious about the differences? Manual therapy vs. physiotherapy is actually less of a fight than you might expect.
Physiotherapy is a healthcare field that uses noninvasive techniques to address musculoskeletal issues, such as back pain, arthritis, or muscle strains. Manual therapy isn’t a separate field but rather a set of techniques used within physiotherapy.
At Nova Physiotherapy, we use both manual therapy techniques alongside other physiotherapy approaches, such as therapeutic exercise or pain management modalities. We pride ourselves on creating customized treatment programs that pull from all the tools at our disposal.
To learn more about manual therapy vs. physiotherapy, call our clinic to schedule an appointment. Our friendly staff is happy to answer any questions you have!
Manual Therapy: A Cornerstone of Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy aims to help people move better. Many conditions, injuries, and other impairments prevent us from staying active, whether due to intense pain or limited range of motion. Physiotherapists strive to remove those barriers so they can address the underlying cause of the impairment–often helping to resolve the issue entirely.
To accomplish this, physiotherapists utilize several different treatment techniques. Here are the four main ones:
- Therapeutic exercise, which includes strengthening, stretching, and aerobic exercises, as well as targeted exercises and functional training
- Education, which means we provide our patients with the information they need to meet their goals
- Modalities, which include several techniques that can manage pain, such as hot and cold therapy, electrostim therapy, or light therapy
- Manual therapy
Manual therapy, along with exercise, is one of the cornerstones of physiotherapy. It consists of hands-on treatment techniques in which your physiotherapists use their hands to help alleviate pain, restore range of motion, and promote blood circulation. Manual therapy is crucial in preparing your body for a more intense treatment.
Different Manual Therapy Techniques; One Physiotherapy Umbrella
Manual therapy is a catch-all term for several different physiotherapy techniques. The one thing they all have in common is that they involve physiotherapists using the power of human touch to address symptoms and impairments.
Here are a few examples of the different types of manual therapy we do at Nova Physiotherapy:
- Soft tissue mobilization: This technique uses a massage-like approach to mobilize your soft tissue–your muscles, ligaments, and tendons. This process promotes relaxation and reduces muscle tension, improving mobility and lessening pain.
- Joint mobilization: Our physiotherapists can also mobilize your joints, helping to promote mobility and improve functionality. What does it mean to mobilize a joint? Simple: we’ll gently guide an impaired joint through its current range of motion.
- Joint manipulation: In some situations, your joint may need more than a mobilization can provide. In these cases, we’ll utilize joint manipulation, in which we sharply thrust a joint through its current range of motion–giving you a fast track to pain relief.
- Trigger point therapy: Your muscles are wrapped in a thick, protective tissue called fascia. Sometimes, small, tender knots–trigger points–can form in your fascia, leading to pain and tension. Trigger point therapy involves releasing these knots to reduce pain and improve muscle function.
No matter what manual therapy technique we perform, it will always be part of a comprehensive physiotherapy treatment program custom-designed to address your symptoms and work to resolve any underlying musculoskeletal issues. Manual therapy’s role is to help you manage acute pain, discomfort, and immobility as you move through a progressive treatment program.
Which Conditions Can Manual Therapy Help Treat?
At Nova Physiotherapy, our team of physiotherapists can help you manage musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction throughout your body. With a blend of manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, patient education, and other modalities, we’ll help you find solutions that work for you.
Here are just a few of the conditions we can help treat with manual therapy:
- Joint pain–whether in the back, hip, knees, shoulder, or elsewhere
- Ligament injuries (such as ACL or LCL tears)
- Muscle strains
- Arthritis
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Whiplash
- Post-surgical rehabilitation
- And much more!
Physiotherapy offers a noninvasive alternative to surgery or pain medication through various techniques. While manual therapy refers to many foundational techniques within our field, we can also provide more active approaches. It all depends on your condition, symptoms, and overall goals.
Is Physiotherapy Right for You? Call Us Today to Find Out!
If you’re struggling with persistent pain, a lingering joint injury, or a musculoskeletal condition like arthritis, Nova Physiotherapy is here to help! Request an appointment to receive your own customized physiotherapy treatment program!
