Manual Physical Therapy in Warrenton, MO: A Hands-On Treatment
Manual physical therapy in Warrenton, MO. Physical therapy is a medical specialty that focuses on the use of physical methods, such as exercise, stretching, and other treatments, to help patients regain optimal physical function. At Axes, our Warrenton, MO physical and occupational therapists return our clients to the activities they love by using treatments that are backed by evidence to work. One such treatment method is manual therapy, in which your Axes physical therapist in Warrenton, MO uses their hands and specialized instruments to safely and effectively relieve pain and restore motion to your joints and soft tissue. If you’re suffering an illness or injury in Warrenton, MO that’s keeping you from living the life you want, contact Axes through our website 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 dates back to 400 BCE. Also known as hands-on therapy, manual therapy is specialty within the practice 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 structures. Doing this can help address numerous different conditions and injuries, including chronic pain, arthritis, sports injuries, and more. It encourages the body to promote healing, reduce pain, and restore function.
The aim of manual physical therapy is to help patients regain optimal health and function through non-invasive treatments that can be used alone or in combination with other treatments, such as exercise and stretching. 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 Warrenton, MO physical therapists only prescribe treatment plans that have been proven to work.
What Injuries and Conditions Can Manual Physical Therapy Help With in Warrenton, MO
Manual physical therapy can be used to treat numerous different conditions and injuries. Here are some examples:
- Back pain — Manual physical therapy has been proven to relieve chronic low back pain, which almost 9 out of 10 U.S. adults suffer from at some juncture in their lives.
- Neck pain — Manual physical therapy can also be used to treat neck pain, which can be caused by poor posture, anxiety, or an accident.
- Sports injuries — Those who play sports in Warrenton, MO who sustain sports injuries such as sprains, strains, and ACL tears can recover from their injury quicker with the help of manual therapy.
- Arthritis — Manual physical therapy can be used to treat 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 limited joint movement, improve flexibility, and impede the disease from progressing further.
- Fibromyalgia — Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder that causes pain throughout the body or at multiple sites.
- Headaches — Manual physical therapy can also be great at treating headaches, including tension headaches and migraines.
These are just a few examples of the many conditions and injuries that manual physical therapy can provide meaningful relief for. If you are experiencing pain or lack of motion, reach out to an Axes Warrenton, MO physical therapist to discover if manual physical therapy is suitable for your injury or condition. After you come to any of our locations for a free free injury screenings, we’ll work in concert with you and your doctor to get you back to the activities you love most – safely and effectively.
Manual Techniques Axes’ Warrenton, MO Physical Therapists Use
There are several different types of manual physical therapy techniques that a therapist in Warrenton, MO may recommend for your treatment, 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 range of motion, and promote healing by encouraging the flow of blood. This can be done using numerous different techniques such as massage, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization.
During soft tissue mobilization, the therapist administering pressure and stretches the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in a particular manner to break up adhesions, release trigger points, and improve blood flow. Soft tissue mobilization is frequently used to help 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 recover quicker, safely, and effectively.
Joint Manipulation
Joint mobilization is a passive technique in which the therapist guides the joint through slow movements along its natural path. The goal of joint mobilization is to reestablish joint mobility and offer pain relief by gently stretching the joint capsule and surrounding soft tissues. Joint mobilization is often used for patients who have stiffness in a joint, and it is usually performed without causing any audible cracking sounds.
Joint Mobilization
Joint manipulation is on the other side of the spectrum, and is a high-velocity, low-amplitude (HVLA) technique that involves an abrupt and controlled force to the joint. The goal of joint manipulation is to regain a joint’s range of motion and reduce pain by readjust 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 most commonly used for people who have acute joint pain, limited joint mobility, or a joint that is out of alignment. It is imperative that joint manipulation should only be performed by medical professional who has been trained for it, as it can be accompanied by certain risks, like 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 band or sheet of connective tissue that surrounds and supports the organs and instructions inside our bodies. With myofascial release, your Warrenton, MO physical therapist applies sustained pressure and stretching to the fascia and underlying muscle tissue to let go of tension and regain normal function. Myofascial release is can be part of a treatment plan for a wide variety of injuries and conditions, including chronic pain, headaches, neck and back pain, fibromyalgia, and TMJ.
During your session, the physical therapist applies mild to moderate, sustained pressure to specific areas of the body where there is restriction 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 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 goal of trigger point therapy is to release painful knots in the muscles. It’s often used by Warrenton, MO physical therapists to treat a variety of conditions, including chronic pain, headaches, neck and back pain, fibromyalgia, and sports injuries.
During your trigger point therapy session, the therapist uses their hands or a specialized tool to apply direct pressure to the trigger point. More pressure is applied as the session goes on, 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. In your particular case, your physical therapist may suggest trigger point dry needling.
Benefits of Manual Physical Therapy in Warrenton, MO
Manual physical therapy can do wonders for your body and lifestyle, including:
- Reduced pain — Manual physical therapy can help feel better during your treatment plan. By reducing pain, patients can experience an improved quality of life and can start getting their lifestyle back sooner.
- Enhanced range of motion — By regaining optimal movement health, manual physical therapy can help Warrenton, MO resident perform daily tasks and other activities more effectively. 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 affected body part.
- Faster recovery — Manual physical therapy can help to encourage the body’s natural healing process, which can make your recovery quicker. This can be especially beneficial for patients recovering from an operation or other medical procedures.
- Improved posture — Manual therapy can offer you a better posture by properly aligning your muscles and joints and soothing over affected tissue.
- Reduced stress — 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 may find relief because of less stress, 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 Warrenton, 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 Warrenton, MO | Axes Physical Therapy
Manual physical therapy is a powerful and effective approach to treating a wide range of conditions and injuries in Warrenton, 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 focus on giving our patients positive client experiences by helping Warrenton, MO residents get back to what they enjoy the most with evidence-backed treatment modalities. To learn more about what Axes can do for you, contact us through our website or call the location nearest you.
