Manual Therapy is a set of “hands-on” therapeutic techniques, applied by a specialized physiotherapist to the patient, with the aim of evaluating and restoring musculoskeletal dysfunctions or diseases.
Taking a detailed history and properly assessing the patient’s symptoms, are the basis for the correct differential diagnosis, for the selection of appropriate therapeutic techniques and ultimately for the design of an individualized rehabilitation program. Thus, with the Manual Therapy during the patient examination, the following are evaluated:
- The body’s movements in space and the reproduction of the patient’s symptoms with them
- Intra-articular movement ( joint) play ) of the joints of the spine and limbs
- Muscle synergy to achieve good motor control
- Muscle strength and endurance
- The participation or absence of nervous tissue in the production of symptoms
This approach leads to the precise identification of both the area and the tissues responsible for causing the patient’s symptoms, as well as the determination of the mechanism of their occurrence. In other words, the cause of the problem is identified and recorded, not just the patient’s symptoms.
Therapeutic techniques are then applied, categorized as “mobilizations” and “manipulations.” These techniques are selected according to the cause of the problem and gradually (but from the very first session) reduce the intensity of the symptoms and increase the range of motion of the involved joints.
The Manual Therapy is an interactive physiotherapeutic intervention and thus from the first session the patient is given personalized therapeutic exercises, of appropriate intensity and frequency, which must also be performed at home.
At the same time, the patient is informed in detail about the cause of his problem, the mechanisms of production of his symptoms and is trained to avoid movements or postures that reproduce these symptoms, as well as to adopt others (postures/movements) that reduce them.
This active participation of the patient in the process of restoring his problem leads to the avoidance of future relapses or the transformation of the problem into a chronic one, but also to the more effective management of a problem that is already in the chronic stage.
The Manual ‘s physiotherapy approach Therapy can be applied to all musculoskeletal problems, both in their acute and subacute stages, as well as in the chronic stage. The goal of the treatment is always the cause of the problem and not the patient’s symptoms. The positive results of the treatment are visible from the first session and ultimately the total recovery time of the problem is short.
Additional advantage of Manual Therapy is the active participation of the patient in the rehabilitation of their problem, which contributes to avoiding relapses and preventing the creation of new musculoskeletal dysfunctions.
