Manual therapy is a specialized form of physical therapy delivered with the hands as opposed to a device or machine. In manual therapy, practitioners use their hands to put pressure on muscle tissue and manipulate joints in an attempt to decrease back pain caused by muscle spasm, muscle tension and joint dysfunction.
Manual therapy can be helpful for the treatment of joints that lack adequate mobility and range of motion in certain musculo-skeletal conditions. The lack of mobility can cause pain, discomfort and difficulty in walking and other movements. It can also adversely affect the posture, leading to more problems. Manual therapy can provide relief from chronic back pain involving joint problems as well as back pain caused by pulled ligaments and muscle strain.
Manual therapy techniques are aimed at relaxing tense back muscles and restricted joints in order to decrease back pain and increase flexibility.
- Soft tissue therapy, including massage, applies pressure to the soft tissues of the body such as the muscles. This pressure can help relax muscles, increase circulation, break up scar tissue, and ease pain in the soft tissues.
- Mobilization/manipulation, which uses measured movements of varying speed, force and distance to realign fixated joints. This can help loosen tight tissues around a joint, reduce pain in a joint and surrounding tissue, and help with flexibility. These procedures are proven to be safe and effective.
Chiropractors and Physiotherapists can provide this kind of treatment after a complete analysis of your pain and medical history. Manual therapy might be a more suitable method of relieving pain in your case instead of other methods.