Manual Therapy

Manual Physical Therapy Services

Manual therapy is one of the simplest and most effective methods for treating various common health issues. This hands-on approach to pain relief focuses on restoring natural movement in the body while ensuring that the muscles and joints remain unharmed.

Manualized therapy can help reduce pain and improve mobility, allowing individuals to engage in daily activities with greater ease and comfort. Manual physical therapy can enhance overall physical function and well-being by addressing restrictions in movement and promoting relaxation. With its personalized treatment plans, it can also serve as a complementary option alongside other therapeutic approaches, making it a valuable tool in comprehensive healthcare.

What is Manual Therapy?

Manual therapy focuses on relaxing tight, painful muscle tissues and resolving the sources of your pain through therapeutic techniques. By improving overall muscle function and encouraging relaxation, our manual therapy techniques can drastically reduce pain and inflammation in targeted areas of the body. This approach to physical therapy is delivered exclusively with the hands, unlike other types of therapy that require machines or external devices. Manualized therapy is a safe, highly effective treatment that can successfully treat a variety of painful conditions, including:

• Chronic back pain and spasms
• Muscle tension in the neck and shoulders
• Problems with joint mobility and stiffness
• Headaches and migraines

At Total Motion Physical Therapy, we provide soft tissue massage and manual manipulation to help relieve tight muscles and increase circulation in the surrounding areas. By encouraging healthy blood flow and relieving inflammation, we can help ease even the toughest areas of pain.

Our Manual Therapy Techniques

Before your session begins, we will assess your current health and evaluate the condition of your bones and muscles to ensure you are in good enough shape to undergo treatment.

The most common techniques used in this form of therapy include the following:

STM Treatment

Soft Tissue Mobilization (STM) is a hands-on physical therapy technique designed to treat muscle, fascia, tendons, and ligaments that have become tight, restricted, or painful due to injury, overuse, or chronic conditions.

During your session, one of our physical therapists will typically start out with soft tissue mobilization, also known as STM. STM helps break up those tough areas of muscle tension where scar tissue and other tissues have built up and caused restricted movement or pain. Using specialized massage therapy techniques that include applying deep pressure and a gentle stretching technique, we can help reduce pain and restore proper range of motion. Soft Tissue Mobilization is often combined with other treatments like stretching or joint mobilization to foster better, long-lasting results.

Joint Mobilization

Joint mobilization involves applying gentle, passive movements to a specific joint. The physical therapist uses their hands to apply precise forces to the joint, moving it in ways that the patient cannot do actively.

Join mobilization is typically the next step in a manual therapy session, and it’s important for reducing pain in the long term. With joint mobilization, our physical therapists perform gentle movements that increase your range of motion slowly without causing any harm to the joints. These techniques are often followed by Muscle Energy Techniques (MET), which help lengthen muscles that have been shortened over time and those that don’t move as well. Over time, these combined actions result in increased motion, less pain and stiffness, an improvement of joint nutrition and lubrication, and improvement of overall symptoms and function.

Strain/Counterstrain

This is a helpful technique for correcting issues commonly associated with bad posture and other sources of back pain. Through mild stretching that includes intervals of rest, we can help relieve acute back problems and other types of pain safely and comfortably.

In order to get the most benefit from manual therapy, your physical therapist may recommend additional exercises and stretches that should be performed while you are in treatment and for a period of time after treatment has ended. By helping relieve your pain now and showing you how to maintain your new pain-free lifestyle through healthy exercise, manual therapy can be a highly effective treatment for many patients.

Let Total Motion Physical Therapy help relieve back pain, reduce inflammation, and correct chronic muscle and joint issues.

Common Conditions and Ailments We Treat with Manual Therapy

Manual therapy is a versatile and effective approach for treating a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions. At our practice, we successfully use techniques to address:

Why Choose Us for Manual Therapy?

At Total Motion Physical Therapy, we pride ourselves on delivering exceptional therapy services to our community in Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and Radford, VA.

Here’s why patients trust us for their needs:

Expert, Specialized Therapists

Our team consists of highly trained physical therapists with advanced certifications in techniques. Each therapist undergoes continuous education to stay at the forefront of manual therapy practices.

Personalized Treatment Plans

We understand that every patient is unique. That’s why we create individualized treatment plans tailored to your specific condition, lifestyle, and goals.

State-of-the-Art Facilities

Our clinic is equipped with the latest technology and equipment to complement our manual therapy techniques, ensuring you receive the most effective treatment possible.

Comfortable, Welcoming Environment

Our clinic provides a warm, supportive atmosphere where you can feel at ease during your treatment sessions.

No Doctor Referral Needed

Total Motion Physical Therapy is a Direct Access Certified practice, meaning you can receive treatment from our physical therapists without a doctor’s referral.

Manual Therapy in Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and Radford

At Total Motion, we’re committed to helping you achieve optimal health and mobility. Whether you’re dealing with chronic pain, recovering from an injury, or seeking to improve your overall well-being, our skilled physical therapists are here to guide you every step of the way. Schedule your consultation today and take the first step towards a healthier, more active life!

Here’s how to schedule an appointment as you seek manual therapy near you:

Online Booking

Use the form below to request your consultation online at your convenience.

By Phone

Call us at 540-585-4841 to speak with one of our friendly staff members who will assist you in scheduling your appointment.

Email

Please send us a message at contact@totalmotionpt.net with your preferred dates and times, and we’ll respond promptly.

Frequently Asked Questions About Manual Therapy