Manual Therapy

Written by: Navreen Sidhu BSc. CAT(C), Athletic Therapist

Athletic Therapists specialize in treating musculoskeletal related injuries whether it’s acute, chronic or post-operative. Injuries involving the bone, muscle, tendon or ligaments do not only cause pain, but also dysfunction to the boney and soft tissue structures of the body. Impairments to these structures often leads to hypomobility (decreased joint movement), and prevents patients from taking part in activities they enjoy doing. 

​While the utilization of hot packs and electrical modalities help patients to a certain extent; however, treatment in the form of manual therapy has shown to restore, normalize, and optimize the functionality of your body in a more effective manner. During an appointment with me, you will often find me utilizing some form of manual therapy coupled with exercises. These exercises will help maintain whatever was achieved via manual therapy.

​For example, if a patient came in with decreased ankle dorsiflexion (pointing the foot towards the shin). I would start off by performing posterior glides of the talocrural joint to help the patient gain some ankle dorsiflexion, and then prescribe at-home exercises that will help maintain and further increase ankle mobility.

What is Manual Therapy?

Manual Therapy involves proficient hands-on movements as well as skillful passive movements of joints and soft tissue.
 
Common Joint and Soft tissue techniques used by ATs:

• Myofascial Release
• Joint Mobilization
• Active Release Technique
• Mulligans Technique
• Traction Therapy
• Graston Technique
• Cupping Therapy

What can manual therapy help with?

• Increase range of motion
• Improve tissue extensibility
• Improve mobility
• Modulate pain
• Reduce swelling
• Reduce Inflammation
• Break down scar tissue
• Improve recovery time

 
Examples of common injuries and conditions that can be treated using manual therapy:

• Muscle strain

• Adhesive capsulitis/ Frozen Shoulder  
• Ligament sprain
• Tendonitis
• Post-operative conditions
• Bursitis
• Disc injuries
• Radiating nerve pain
• Whiplash​
  

How Can You Benefit from Manual Therapy?

Whether it’s your initial or subsequent appointment with me, you will find that any manual therapy technique utilized is based off an extensive examination of your injury. After gaining a better understanding of your condition, a form of manual therapy is incorporated into the treatment plan. Since there are a wide variety of manual therapy techniques used, each technique is uniquely beneficial and catered to your body’s need. For instance, the usage of myofascial release (a form of massage), cupping, or graston on an injury site can help reduce inflammation, improve tissue extensibility, and break down scar tissue. On the other hand, the application of joint mobilizations can help improve mobility and aid in decreasing pain.

After reading this article, I hope this provides some insight on the value of manual therapy, what athletic therapists do, and most importantly what to expect when booking an appointment with me. ​​​​