Manual Physical Therapy in St. Ann, MO: A Hands-On Approach to Care
Manual physical therapy in St. Ann, MO. Physical therapy is a medical are of expertise that focuses on restoring movement and function to patients who have suffered from injury or illness. At Axes, our St. Ann, MO physical and occupational therapists get our patients back to the activities they enjoy doing most by using treatments that have been proven to work. One such treatment method is manual therapy, in which your Axes physical therapist in St. Ann, MO uses skilled hand movements, including joint mobilization, soft tissue mobilization, and manipulation, to improve joint and muscle function, reduce pain, and restore mobility.. If you’re experiencing an illness or injury in St. Ann, MO that’s keeping you from the activities you love most, contact Axes online or call the location nearest you to find meaningful 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 has been utilized for centuries to treat a variety of illnesses and injuries. Also known as hands-on therapy, manual therapy is specialty within the realm of physical therapy. It’s a type of treatment in which the physical therapists utilizes their hands to manipulate, mobilize, and massage the patient’s muscles, joints, and soft tissues. This approach can be used to address numerous different conditions and injuries, including chronic pain, back and neck pain, muscle spasms, and more. It can help to promote blood flow and relearn how to move correctly, ultimately restoring function.
Manual physical therapy seeks to help patients regain 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 types of physical therapy, such as exercise prescription, typically gets better results than either therapy used by itself. At Axes, our St. Ann, MO physical therapists exclusively utilize treatment plans that are backed by evidence.
What Injuries and Conditions Can Manual Physical Therapy Help With in St. Ann, MO
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 has been proven to relieve chronic low back pain, which almost 9 out of 10 American adults experience at some point in their lives.
- Neck pain — Manual physical therapy can also be used to treat neck pain, which may be the result of poor posture, anxiety, or injury.
- Sports injuries — St. Ann, MO athletes who sustain sports injuries like sprains, strains, and ACL tears can get back on the field quicker through manual therapy.
- Arthritis — Manual physical therapy can help manage the symptoms of arthritis, a degenerative condition caused by the breakdown of cartilage in joints. Manual Therapy can be used to reduce issues in your joints, improve flexibility, and impede the disease from spreading further.
- Fibromyalgia — Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition that causes pain throughout the body or in multiple areas of the body.
- Headaches — Manual physical therapy can also be great at treating headaches, including tension headaches and migraines.
These are just a few of the many conditions and injuries that manual physical therapy can provide meaningful relief for. If you are suffering from pain or lack of motion, reach out to an Axes St. Ann, MO physical therapist to find out if manual physical therapy is right for you. After one of our free injury screenings, we’ll form a team with you and your doctor to return you to the activities you enjoy doing most – safely and effectively.
Manual Techniques Our St. Ann, MO Physical Therapists Utilize
There are many different types of manual physical therapy techniques that a therapist in St. Ann, MO may recommend for your treatment, such as:
Soft Tissue Mobilization
Soft tissue mobilization involves exerting pressure to the soft tissues of the body, such as the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The objective of soft tissue mobilization is to relieve pain, increase range of motion, and promote healing by encouraging the flow of blood. This can be accomplished using various techniques such as massage, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization.
During soft tissue mobilization, the therapist applies pressure and elongates the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in a particular manner to break up scar tissue, 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 best when combined with other therapies to help patients achieve optimal results.
Joint Manipulation
Joint mobilization is a light technique in which the therapist utilized controlled movements to the joint within its natural range of movement. The objective of joint mobilization is to improve joint mobility and offer pain relief by passively 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 cracking sounds.
Joint Mobilization
Joint manipulation, on the other hand, is a high-velocity, low-amplitude (HVLA) technique in which the physical therapist applies a sudden and controlled force to the joint. The goal of joint manipulation is to reestablish a joint’s range of motion and relieve pain by realigning the joint and breaking up any adhesions. Joint manipulation often produces a perceptible popping or cracking sound due to the release of gas bubbles in the joint capsule.
Joint manipulation is typically used for people who have acute joint pain, limited joint mobility, or a joint that needs to be realigned. It is imperative that joint manipulation should only be performed by a physical therapist, as it can be accompanied by certain risks, like injury or exacerbation of an existing condition.
Myofascial Release
Myofascial release is a kind of physical therapy treatment that is used to treat myofascial pain and dysfunction. Fascia is a connective tissue made up of collagen and elastin fibers that surrounds and supports out internal organs and structures. With myofascial release, your St. Ann, MO physical therapist applies sustained pressure and stretching to the fascia and underlying muscle tissue to let go of tension and regain normal movement. 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 slowly, allowing the fascia to lengthen and release. The therapist may also use stretching and other techniques to enhance the benefits of the myofascial release.
Trigger Point Therapy
Trigger point therapy is a technique that involves applying pressure to particular points in soft tissue that are tender or painful. The aim of trigger point therapy is to release tension and reduce pain in the affected area. It’s often used by St. Ann, 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. The pressure is applied gradually and 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. In your particular treatment plan, your physical therapist may suggest trigger point dry needling.
Benefits of Manual Physical Therapy in St. Ann, MO
There are many benefits to manual physical therapy, including:
- Reduced pain — Manual physical therapy can help feel better during your treatment plan. By reducing pain, patients have an improved quality of life and get back to activities they enjoy.
- Enhanced flexibility — By regaining optimal movement health, manual physical therapy can help patients perform daily tasks and other activities more effectively. Improved mobility can also help in future injury prevention.
- Improved circulation — Some manual therapy techniques, such as soft tissue mobilization, can help boost circulation by encouraging blood flow to the region.
- Faster recovery — Manual physical therapy can help to promote healing and reduce inflammation, which can lead to a shorter recovery time. This can be especially great for patients who recently had surgery or other medical procedures.
- Improved posture — Manual therapy can help improve posture by releasing tension in the soft tissue that support the spine and other joints.
- Improved mental health — Manual therapy can be a soothing experience, because it releases endorphins, the body’s own, homegrown feel-good hormone.
- Improved quality of life — By decreasing pain and restoring mobility, 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 enjoy the most.
Other services we offer in St. Ann, MO 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 St. Ann, MO | Axes Physical Therapy
Manual physical therapy is a proven and safe approach to treating a wide range of conditions and injuries in St. Ann, 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 invasive procedures or medications. At Axes, we provide positive client experiences by helping St. Ann, 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 nearest you.
