Manual Therapy

If you have chronic pain or you’d like help healing from a recent injury, manual therapy is an option that provides medication-free pain relief, improves mobility, and enhances physical function. Pooja Vashi, DPT, along with the skilled team at Ultra Comprehensive Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy perform manual therapy and other techniques that reduce swelling, decrease inflammation, and promote soft tissue healing. To schedule an evaluation, call the office in Clifton, New Jersey, or make an appointment online today.

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What is manual therapy?

Manual therapy is a hands-on technique during which a physical therapist moves joints and manipulates soft tissue. Manual therapy can relieve pain, improve flexibility, increase range of motion, and support tissue healing.

Types of manual therapy include:

  • Lymphatic drainage
  • Massage techniques
  • Joint mobilization
  • Tractioning
  • Stretching

Manual therapy is typically performed in combination with strength exercises and other types of physical therapy.

What are the benefits of manual therapy?

The experts at Ultra Comprehensive Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy perform manual therapy to achieve the following benefits:

  • Releasing tension
  • Increasing range-of-motion
  • Restoring musculoskeletal function
  • Reducing swelling, edema, and inflammation

Manual therapy can also be used to prepare the body for sports or exercise to prevent injury and enhance performance, and as part of a recovery protocol following a sports event or intense physical activity.

Which conditions can manual therapy address?

The skilled physical therapists at Ultra Comprehensive Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy use manual therapy to address a wide variety of conditions, such as:

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Back pain
  • Knee pain
  • Shoulder pain
  • Tennis elbow
  • Repetitive motion injuries
  • Postural imbalance

Manual therapy is not recommended to address conditions caused by hypermobility in the joints, such as joint instability.

What is the difference between manual therapy and massage therapy?

Massage therapy is a specific type of manual therapy. A licensed massage therapist, doctor, or physical therapist is qualified to perform massage therapy.

Typically, a physical therapist uses specific massage techniques that are integrated into a more extensive manual therapy or physical therapy protocol, while a massage therapist uses several types of massage techniques to achieve multiple goals, including stress relief and relaxation as well as supporting soft tissue healing.

The team at Ultra Comprehensive Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy can integrate massage into your physical therapy session along with other types of manual therapy. Manual therapy helps relieve pain without medication and speed recovery after injury.

They also offer massage therapy as a separate service to benefit your overall health and enhance pain relief. Following your initial evaluation, your therapist will recommend the techniques that will best address your individual condition and goals.

For outstanding physical therapy that includes the most advanced manual therapy techniques, schedule an evaluation at Ultra Comprehensive Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy. Call the office today, or make an appointment online.