Manual Physical Therapy in Hawk Point, MO | Injury and Chronic Pain Treatment

Manual Physical Therapy in Hawk Point, MO: A Hands-On Treatment

Manual physical therapy in Hawk Point, MO. Physical therapy is a medical are of expertise that focuses on restoring movement and function to patients who have sustained injury or illness. At Axes, our Hawk Point, MO physical and occupational therapists return our clients to the activities they enjoy doing most by using treatments that have been proven to work. One treatment we’ve found successful is manual therapy, in which your Axes physical therapist in Hawk Point, MO uses their hands and specialized instruments to safely and effectively relieve pain and restore motion to your joints and muscles, tendons, and ligaments. If you’re experiencing an illness or injury in Hawk Point, MO that’s preventing you from the things you love most, contact Axes through our website or call the location most convenient for you to find meaningful relief.

What Is Manual Physical Therapy?

The International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists Incorporated defines “manual therapy” as:

a specialized area of physiotherapy / physical therapy for the management of neuro-musculoskeletal conditions, based on clinical reasoning, using highly specific treatment approaches including manual techniques and therapeutic exercises.

Manual physical therapy has been utilized for centuries to treat a variety of illnesses and injuries. Also called hands-on therapy, manual therapy is specialty within the practice of physical therapy. It’s a type of treatment that involves the therapist using their hands to manipulate, mobilize, and massage affected body parts and surrounding structures. This approach can be used to address a wide range of conditions and injuries, including chronic pain, joint stiffness, sports injuries, and more. It encourages the body to promote healing, reduce pain, and restore function.

Manual physical therapy seeks to help patients return to the activities they enjoy through non-invasive treatments that can be used alone or alongside other techniques, such as guided exercise. Research demonstrates that a combination of manual physical therapy and other types of physical therapy, such as exercise prescription, is more successful than either treatment plan used independently. At Axes, our Hawk Point, MO physical therapists exclusively utilize treatment plans that are backed by evidence.

Manual Physical Therapy Hawk Point, MO | Injury Recovery | Orthopedic Rehab Near Hawk Point

What Injuries and Conditions Can Manual Physical Therapy Treat in Hawk Point, MO

Manual physical therapy can be used to treat numerous different conditions and injuries. Below are some of the most common:

Back pain — Manual physical therapy can be effective in treating chronic low back pain, which almost 9 out of 10 American adults suffer from at some stage in their lifetime.
Neck pain — Manual physical therapy can also help patients who are experiencing neck pain, which may be the result of poor posture, anxiety, or an acute injury.
Sports injuries — Physically active people in Hawk Point, MO who experience sports injuries like sprains, strains, and ACL tears can get back on the court quicker with the help of manual therapy.
Arthritis — Manual physical therapy can help manage the symptoms of arthritis, a degenerative condition used to describe a group of conditions that cause pain and inflammation in the joints. Manual Therapy can be used to reduce issues in your joints, improve range of motion, and impede the disease from progressing further.
Fibromyalgia — Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition that is characterized by wide-ranging musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and tenderness in particular areas of the body.
Headaches — Manual physical therapy can also be great at relieving headaches, including tension headaches and migraines.

These are just a few of the many conditions and injuries that manual physical therapy can help treat. If you are suffering from pain or limited mobility, reach out to an Axes Hawk Point, MO physical therapist to discuss if manual physical therapy is right for you. After you come to any of our locations for a free free injury screenings, we’ll work in concert with you and your physician to get you back to the activities you love most with techniques that have been proven to work.

Manual Techniques Axes’ Hawk Point, MO Physical Therapists Utilize

There are several different types of manual physical therapy techniques that a therapist in Hawk Point, MO may recommend for your treatment, for example:

Soft Tissue Mobilization

Soft tissue mobilization is the technique of exerting pressure to the soft tissues of the body, including muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The objective of soft tissue mobilization is to relieve pain, increase flexibility, and promote healing by smoothing out scar tissue. This can be accomplished using various techniques such as massage therapy, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization.

During soft tissue mobilization, the therapist exerts pressure and stretches the soft tissues in a particular manner to break up scar tissue, release trigger points, and improve blood flow. Soft tissue mobilization is commonly used to help conditions such as sports injuries, chronic pain, back and neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and plantar fasciitis. It is often used alongside other treatments such as exercise and stretching to help patients recover quicker, safely, and effectively.

Joint Manipulation

Joint mobilization is a passive technique in which the therapist guides the joint through controlled movements within its natural range of motion. The aim of joint mobilization is to improve joint mobility and reduce pain by gently stretching the joint capsule and surrounding soft tissues. Joint mobilization is a manual physical therapy technique that can help patients who have stiffness in a joint, and there typically isn’t any audible popping sounds.

Joint Mobilization

Joint manipulation is a cousin of joint manipulation, and is a high-velocity, low-amplitude (HVLA) technique that involves an abrupt and controlled force to the joint. The objective of joint manipulation is to reestablish joint mobility and limit pain by realigning the joint and breaking up any restrictions. Joint manipulation can produce an audible popping or cracking sound due to the release of gas bubbles within the joint.

Joint manipulation is typically used for people who have acute joint pain, restricted joint mobility, or a joint that is out of alignment. It is important to note that joint manipulation should only be performed by a physical therapist, as it does carry certain risks, like injury or making the current injury worse.

Myofascial Release

Myofascial release is a manual therapy technique that is used to treat myofascial pain and dysfunction. Fascia is a thin, tough, and elastic connective tissue that surrounds and supports muscles, bones, and organs throughout the body. With myofascial release, your Hawk Point, MO physical therapist applies sustained pressure and stretching to the fascia and underlying muscle tissue to let go of tension and restore normal movement. Myofascial release is often used to treat a wide range of conditions, including chronic pain, headaches, neck and back pain, fibromyalgia, and TMJ.

During a myofascial release session, the physical therapist applies gentle, sustained pressure to specific areas of the body where there is restriction in the fascia. The pressure is applied gradually, allowing the fascia to stretch and release. The therapist may also use stretching and other techniques to boost the benefits of the myofascial release.

Trigger Point Therapy

Trigger point therapy is a technique that involves applying pressure to certain points within a muscle or fascia that are giving the patients problems. The objective of trigger point therapy is to release painful knots in the muscles. It’s often used by Hawk Point, MO physical therapists to treat a wide range of conditions, including chronic pain, headaches, neck and back pain, fibromyalgia, and sports injuries.

During your trigger point therapy appointment, the therapist uses their hands or a specialized tool to apply direct pressure to the trigger point. More pressure is applied as the session progresses, and it’s sustained for several seconds or longer, allowing the trigger point to release. The therapist may also use stretching and other techniques to improve the benefits of the trigger point therapy. In your particular sessions, your physical therapist may advise trigger point dry needling.

How Manual Physical Therapy in Hawk Point, MO Can Help You

There are many benefits to manual physical therapy, including:

Decreased pain — Manual physical therapy can help to relieve pain and discomfort caused by injuries and chronic conditions. By reducing pain, patients can experience an improved quality of life and get back to activities they enjoy.
Increased range of motion — By regaining normal function, manual physical therapy can help people move more easily. Improved mobility can also help in future injury prevention.
Improved bloodflow — Some manual therapy techniques, like soft tissue mobilization, can help boost circulation by increasing blood flow to the affected body part.
Faster recovery — Manual physical therapy can help to encourage the body’s natural healing process, which can speed up the recovery process. This can be especially advantageous for patients who recently had an operation or other invasive procedures.
Improved posture — Manual therapy can offer you a better posture by releasing tension in the muscles and fascia that support the spine and other joints.
Improved mental health — Manual therapy can be a relaxing experience, as it releases endorphins, the body’s own, homegrown feel-good hormone.
Better quality of life — By decreasing pain and restoring mobility, manual physical therapy can improve your overall quality of life. Patients may experience less anxiety, better sleep, and improved mental health as a result of finally being able to get back to the activities they love.

Other services we offer in Hawk Point, MO include:

Manual Physical Therapy Hawk Point, MO | Chronic Pain Treatment | Physical Therapy Near Hawk Point

Manual Physical Therapy in Hawk Point, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

Manual physical therapy is a powerful and safe treatment option for a wide range of conditions and injuries in Hawk Point, MO. By using their hands to manipulate and mobilize certain parts of the body, physical therapists can help patients achieve optimal health and function without the need for surgical options or prescription drugs. At Axes, we focus on giving our patients positive client experiences by helping Hawk Point, MO residents get back to what they enjoy the most with evidence-backed treatment modalities. To see if manual physical therapy may be right for you, contact us through our website or call the location most convenient to you.

Manual Physical Therapy Hawk Point, MO