Manual therapy

Manual therapy - what is the treatment?

Manual therapy treatment is based on the examination and treatment of the patient, using the manual skills of the therapist's hands. Manual therapy involves working on structures such as joints, ligaments, muscles, tendons and nerves. Based on physiological knowledge and the principles of biomechanics, physiotherapists act on individual elements of the musculoskeletal system using specific grasps, positioning and techniques. The elements used during manual therapy require knowledge and experience, which the physiotherapists at Fizjo&Well have gained from courses and training in manual therapy. This is why only Certified Manual Therapists perform manual therapy treatment in our practice.

What kind of manual therapy do we do?

The physiotherapists at Fizjo&Well work on the basis of several manual therapy schools, including IAOM (International Academy of Orthopedic Medicine), Cyriax, Kaltenborn and manual holistic therapy according to Dr Andrzej Rakowski. Drawing on the above methods, they adapt therapeutic techniques to each individual patient. The basic techniques during treatment here include manipulation, mobilisation and traction. The effectiveness of these treatments is based not on force, but on the correct technique of execution.

Who can benefit from manual therapy?

Manual therapy is recommended as a treatment for pain syndromes of the spine, sciatica, discopathy, joint pain and mobility restrictions, degenerative changes and after immobilisation. Manual therapy is used successfully after injuries, both sports and traffic injuries. Numbness, tingling and paresthesias felt in the limbs are also indications for therapy. Interestingly, manual therapists also work with patients with insomnia, dizziness and tinnitus. Qualification as to the absence of contraindications to the treatment is performed before the therapy begins.

What are the contraindications to manual therapy? 

Absolute contraindications, i.e. those that exclude the possibility of a manual procedure, include: cancer, tuberculosis of the bones, mental disorders, fractures, joint dislocations, advanced osteoporosis, juvenile bone necrosis.

How often do manual therapy treatments take place?

At the Physio&Well office, manual therapy is performed as required - usually 1 to 3 times a week. It all depends, of course, on the condition of the Patient and how his/her condition changes after successive visits. The effectiveness of manual therapy can be observed after a single visit, but it is usually recommended to consolidate the effects of the therapy, which requires several visits to the physiotherapist.

Manual therapy - soft tissue techniques

Manual joint treatment can be carried out using a variety of physiotherapeutic methods. In addition to the previously mentioned schools of manual therapy from which we draw techniques, we additionally use soft tissue techniques. These include post-isometric muscle relaxation, grasps from deep massage, fascial mobilisations and streching.

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