Our Methods: Manual Therapy
What is it?
Orthopaedic Manual Therapy is a specialized area of physiotherapy for the management of neuro-musculo-skeletal conditions, based on clinical reasoning, using highly specific treatment approaches including manual techniques and therapeutic exercises.
Most of the manual techniques used in our clinic are based on The Maitland Concept of Manual Physiotherapy (www.imta.ch) which great strength lies in the disciplined and continual feedback (i.e. patient is reassessed during the course of treatment so the results can be monitored).
It is used to treat skeletal dysfunctions with associated neural and muscular symptoms,
for example:
- Spinal segmental dysfunction with nerve root pain where painful muscle spasm and restricted movements are present.
- Knee injuries with local and refered pain occuring with movement and weight bearing.
- Shoulder injuries with restricted mobility and decreased muscle strength.
- Elbow injuries where patients are unable to grip or carry objects.
In our trained hands it is a safe, effective and comfortable treatment.
How does it work?
Treatment of the restricted spine movement involves encouraging the stiff area of the spine to begin working again. It comprises soft tissue massage, gentle mobilization movements (articulation), and firmer carefully controlled movements (high velocity low amplitude thrusts -HVLAT ) which stretch the stiff part often accompanied by a series of 'clicks and pops'.
Each 'clicks and pops' represents a spinal facet joint being released from its restricted state. This manoeuvres often result in a very rapid reduction in spinal muscle spasm and pain, accompanied by a noticeable increase in the range of spinal movements. Manipulation combined with regular specific exercises seem to the most successful at maintaining the mobility of a previously stiff area.
For the peripheral joint such as knee or elbow treatment consists variety of techniques where specific movements are tested and manoeuvres performed depending on the treated dysfunction.
Our treatment is designed mainly with use of Maitland techniques nevertheless other techniques are also used to complete and keep our approach up to date.
How can it help?
Our treatment techniques are commonly used in the following dysfunctions:
- hypomobility
- motion restriction
- joint fixation
- acute joint locking
- motion loss with somatic dysfunction
- restoration of bone alignment
- meniscoid entrapment
- pain modulation
- reflex relaxation of muscles.
- neural tissue movemnet restriction
See Conditions section for more info about the above conditions.