Manual Therapy

Manual therapy is a treatment method that describes any hands-on techniques that a physiotherapist may use. These are used to help reduce pain through various mechanisms and improve joint range of motion. Our blog will explain pain and how these techniques work. 

Some Manual Therapy techniques include:

• Massage
• Joint Mobilisations - a hands-on technique where your joints are moved in a way that may improve range of motion or reduce pain
• Manipulations* - Refers to a "cavity" of gas within a joint that makes a popping sound when it moves (think of the sound when you crack your fingers). Despite the negative connotation of a cavity when associated with dental terminology, it is normal to have these in the joint. This technique may lead to a short term improvement in your range of motion and a change (modulation) in your pain.

We do not perform Cervical (Neck) manipulations because of the risk of further injury. The reward is poor and can be achieved with other techniques.

*Despite what is said anecdotally, it does not move your joints back into place! A dislocation and subsequent "relocation" is the correct terminology to describe a joint going back into place which is only done following an acute injury.