Manual Physical Therapy in Maryville, IL: A Hands-On Approach to Care
Manual physical therapy in Maryville, IL. Physical therapy is a healthcare profession that focuses on the use of physical methods, such as exercise, stretching, and other techniques, to help patients regain optimal physical function. At Axes, our Maryville, IL physical and occupational therapists return our clients to the activities they love by using treatments that are backed by evidence to work. One treatment that consistently works for our clients is manual therapy, in which your Axes physical therapist in Maryville, IL uses their hands and specialized instruments to safely and effectively relieve pain and restore motion to your joints and soft tissue. If you’re experiencing an illness or injury in Maryville, IL that’s keeping you from living the life you want, contact Axes through our website or get in touch with the location nearest you to find lasting relief.
Manual Physical Therapy Defined
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 dates back to 400 BCE. Also referred to as hands-on therapy, manual therapy is specialty within the area of physical therapy. It’s a treatment methodology in which the physical therapists utilizes their hands to manipulate, mobilize, and massage affected body parts and surrounding tissues. Doing this can help address numerous different conditions and injuries, including chronic pain, arthritis, muscle spasms, and more. It can help to promote healing, reduce pain, and restore function.
The objective of manual physical therapy is to help patients achieve optimal health and function through non-surgical interventions that can be used by themselves or in combination with other treatments, such as exercise and stretching. Studies show that a combination of manual physical therapy and other treatments, such as exercise prescription, typically gets better results than either therapy used independently. At Axes, our Maryville, IL physical therapists only prescribe treatment plans that are backed by evidence.
What Injuries and Conditions Can Manual Physical Therapy Help With in Maryville, IL
Manual physical therapy can be used to treat a wide range of 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 up to 84%of American adults suffer from at some point in their lives.
- Neck pain — Manual physical therapy can also help patients who are experiencing neck pain, which can be caused by poor posture, stress, or an acute injury.
- Sports injuries — Maryville, IL athletes who experience sports injuries including sprains, strains, and ACL tears can get back on the court quicker through manual therapy.
- Arthritis — Manual physical therapy can be used to treat arthritis, a degenerative condition caused by the breakdown of cartilage in joints. Manual Therapy is a great way to reduce issues in your joints, improve range of motion, and impede the disease from progressing further.
- Fibromyalgia — Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder 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 some of the many conditions and injuries that manual physical therapy can provide meaningful relief for. If you are suffering from pain or tenderness, reach out to an Axes Maryville, IL physical therapist to find out if manual physical therapy can help you find relief. After you come to us for a free free injury screenings, we’ll form a team with you and your doctor to get you back to the activities you love most – safely and effectively.
Manual Techniques Axes’ Maryville, IL Physical Therapists Utilize
There are many different types of manual physical therapy techniques that a therapist in Maryville, IL may use, such as:
Soft Tissue Mobilization
Soft tissue mobilization is the technique of exerting pressure to the soft tissues of the body, such as the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The goal of soft tissue mobilization is to relieve pain, increase mobility, and promote healing by smoothing out scar tissue. This can be done using various techniques such as massage, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization.
During soft tissue mobilization, the therapist administering pressure and elongates the soft tissues in a specific manner to break up adhesions, release trigger points, and improve blood flow. Soft tissue mobilization is commonly used to treat 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 achieve optimal results.
Joint Manipulation
Joint mobilization is a light technique in which the therapist guides the joint through slow motions along its natural path. The goal of joint mobilization is to regain joint mobility and offer pain relief by gently stretching the joint capsule and surrounding structures. Joint mobilization is often used for patients who have limited range of motion in a joint, and there typically isn’t any audible popping sounds.
Joint Mobilization
Joint manipulation, on the other hand, is a high-velocity, low-amplitude (HVLA) technique that involves a quick and controlled force to the joint. The objective of joint manipulation is to regain a joint’s range of motion and limit pain by realigning the joint and breaking up any restrictions. Joint manipulation can produce a recognizable popping or cracking sound due to the release of gas bubbles in the joint capsule.
Joint manipulation is most commonly used for patients who have acute joint pain, limited joint mobility, or a joint that is out of alignment. It is important to note that joint manipulation should only be carried out by medical professional who has experience with it, as it can come with certain risks, such as injury or making the current injury worse.
Myofascial Release
Myofascial release is a kind of physical therapy treatment 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 Maryville, IL physical therapist applies sustained pressure and stretching to the fascia and underlying muscle tissue to release tension and restore normal function. Myofascial release is often used to treat a wide range of conditions, including chronic pain, headaches, neck and back pain, fibromyalgia, and temporomandibular joint dysfunction.
During a myofascial release session, the physical therapist applies mild to moderate, sustained pressure to specific body parts where there is tension in the fascia. The pressure is applied gradually, allowing the fascia to lengthen and release. The therapist may also use stretching and other techniques to further the effects of the myofascial release.
Trigger Point Therapy
Trigger point therapy works by applying pressure to particular points within a muscle or fascia that are tender or painful. The objective of trigger point therapy is to release painful knots in the muscles. It’s often used by Maryville, IL physical therapists to treat a variety of conditions, including chronic pain, headaches, neck and back pain, fibromyalgia, and sports injuries.
During a trigger point therapy appointment, the therapist uses their hands or a specialized tool to apply direct pressure to the part of your muscle that is affecting you. 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 enhance the effects of the trigger point therapy. Occasionally, your physical therapist may advise trigger point dry needling.
How Manual Physical Therapy in Maryville, IL Can Help You
Manual physical therapy can do wonders for your body and lifestyle, including:
- Reduced pain — Manual physical therapy can help to relieve pain and discomfort caused by injuries and chronic conditions. By reducing pain, patients have an improved quality of life and get back to activities they enjoy.
- Increased flexibility — By restoring movement and function to the body, manual physical therapy can help people move more easily. Improved mobility can also help in future injury prevention.
- Improved bloodflow — Some manual therapy techniques, such as soft tissue mobilization, can help improve circulation by increasing blood flow to the region.
- Faster recovery — Manual physical therapy can help to encourage the body’s natural healing process, which can make your recovery faster. This can be particularly great for patients who recently had an operation or other medical procedures.
- Improved posture — Manual therapy can offer you a better posture by releasing tension in the soft tissue that support the spine and other joints.
- Improved mental health — Manual therapy can be a relaxing experience, because it releases endorphins, which naturally reduces stress and improves mental health.
- Better quality of life — With all the above benefits in place, manual physical therapy can help patients to enjoy a better quality of life overall. Patients can find relief because of less stress, better sleep, and improved mental health as a result of finally being able to get back to the things they love.
Other services we offer in Maryville, IL include:
- Hip Replacement Physical Therapy
- Workers Comp' Physical Therapy
- Migraine Relief
- Sprain and Strain Treatment
- Geriatric Physical Therapy
- Injury Rehabilitation
- Pain Management Services
- TMJ Treatment
- Herniated Disc Treatment
- Rotator Cuff Tear Treatment
Manual Physical Therapy in Maryville, IL | Axes Physical Therapy
Manual physical therapy is a powerful and effective approach to treating a wide range of conditions and injuries in Maryville, IL. 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 Maryville, IL residents return to the activities they love with proven treatment modalities. To see if manual physical therapy could be a part of your treatment plan, contact us through our website or reach out to the location most convenient to you.