Manual therapy

From ArticleWorld

When we think of treating a particular illness, often the first thing we imagine is seeing a doctor and maybe getting a prescription. An entire aspect of medical treatment, that of manual therapy, is often overlooked. Manual therapy simply includes any therapy using the hands of the therapist to facilitate the treatment of illness. Manual therapy may involve the use of massage, chiropractic techniques or physical therapy to treat conditions that are often musculoskeletal in origin.

Using manual therapy, muscles and other soft tissues are loosened and softened; blood flow to the affected areas is improved. Sometimes heat or cold is applied to the affected area in order to reduce inflammation and control spasm. Chiropractors use manual therapy to adjust the alignment of the vertebrae of patients suffering from back pain, often with satisfactory results.

Physical therapists and physiatrists are useful in the treatment of sports injuries, muscle sprains and ligamentous strains. In some cases, the practitioner of manual therapy also uses orthotic (supportive) devices or braces to immobilize or support the affected body part.

Manual therapy, while not always similar to a typical visit to the doctor, is held in high regard by most doctors in the conventional medical community. Many patients with back pain or other musculoskeletal injury are referred by the doctor to a provider of manual therapy. In addition, numerous scientific articles support the benefits of its use.