Manual Therapy in Downtown Vancouver
Manual Therapy is a set of techniques relating to joint, muscle, fascia stretching and mobilizing that are often used for relief of pain, swelling and other uncomfortable symptoms. Technically speaking the International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists (IFOMPT) defines manual therapy techniques as: “Skilled hand movements intended to produce any or all of the following effects: improve tissue extensibility; increase range of motion of the joint complex; mobilize or manipulate soft tissues and joints; induce relaxation; change muscle function; modulate pain; and reduce soft tissue swelling, inflammation or movement restriction.”
Although the above sounds complex, the actual practice isn’t if you are working with the right physiotherapist. Overall manual therapy helps you move better and it is a key component to any treatment with one of our skilled physiotherapists. In addition to core manual therapy training, some of our Physiotherapists are also trained in Spinal Manipulation, which can be useful for joint fixation in certain spinal conditions. Throughout our years of education and experience, we have to use manual therapy in an array of different cases, but some of the most general benefits of manual therapy include:
- Improving range of motion
- Decrease pain in muscle and joints
- Improve muscle mobility
- Reduce soft tissue swelling
- Reducing muscle inflammation
- Reducing movement restriction
Other Manual Therapy techniques, such as Manual Traction, can provide spinal decompression to provide relief from Degenerative Disc Disease, Nerve Root Impingement, Sciatica, and Stenosis. Myofascial release techniques can be helpful for different types of Arthritis, Frozen Shoulders, and Chronic Pain. So if you are suffering from any of the above or are wondering if Manual Therapy will help you, call us today to book an appointment!
