Introduction
The sphere of healthcare is constantly researched and improved, numerous medicines and treatments are created and tested. Professionals try to find the most efficient and effective ways to reach positive health outcomes; that is why they accept various kinds of treatment without giving preference to particular ones such as pills. Still, when patients have musculoskeletal pain due to the problems with joints and muscles, manual therapy is now often used.
It is known as a physical treatment that is focused on the passive movement of joints and soft tissues, the purpose of which is to restore normal joint mobility. This therapy is rather complex because it requires specific hand placement and a particular application of force. As a rule, manual therapists recommend to utilize other physical therapy techniques and do exercises along with this kind of treatment. Even though manual therapy is not invasive and requires special education from the professional, its techniques allow improving the patient’s condition greatly, increasing the range of movement and reducing pain.
Manual Therapy Techniques
Manual therapy can be maintained in different ways depending on the patient’s health condition. They are several manual therapy techniques, but joint mobilization and soft tissue mobilization are the most common.
Joint mobilization is focused on moving into the barrier of a joint, which helps to increase the range of movement. A therapist makes bone surfaces move on each other in a manner that is not possible for the consumer. If such a technique does not cope with the muscle spasm, professional refers to the soft tissue massage/mobilization to prevent reoccurring problems with a joint. Tendons and ligaments can also be approached. They should slide and glide over each other to restore functions and stop causing pain. Professionals usually apply stretching and pressure to the muscles (Manual therapy techniques, 2016).
Education, Scope of Practice and Treatment Claims
Professionals who are occupied in manual therapy can represent different professions, including physiotherapists or massage and occupational therapists. They can also be osteopaths and chiropractors. The majority of specialists who perform manipulation of such kind have a basic education in manual therapy. Still, some learn needed material in physical therapy school. Also, professionals have an opportunity to master their knowledge and skills during postgraduate training.
In this way, they also get a certification, which is highly valued by clients. This program generally lasts for 235 hours and ends up with testing. Except for that, it is followed by a 2-week residency, which provides an opportunity to try one’s skills in manual therapy in practice.
“Manual therapists focus on restoring the normal movement of joints and soft tissue by using specific hand placements and precise application of forces” (Physical Therapy, 2016). Their scope of practice includes various techniques targeted at the enhancement of motion and relief of pain. They deal with the passive range of motion, mobilization, neuromuscular re-education, massage, and sometimes therapeutic exercise, etc. Manual therapists are in charge of treatment, the design of strategies for the prevention of possible complications, which can be reached with the help of both patient education and therapy (Elvey & O’Sullivan, 2005).
Manual therapy techniques provide various effects. For example, mechanical one is perceived as an increased range of motion, as the surrounding muscles are stretched due to the therapy. It is usually improved with the help of specific exercises that the patient should do. Neurophysiological effects refer to the positive influences on pain systems. It is also claimed to affect the endogenous opiate system positively and to improve one’s psychological condition.
Case Study Report
The effectiveness of manual therapy is already proven by scientists and professionals. For example, a case of treating lumbar radiculopathy with such therapy was analyzed by Riley (2011). A 47-year-old woman suffered from “acute, severe left buttock and posterolateral thigh pain” (Riley, 2011, p. 41). Her symptoms worsened, as she caught or sat for a long. The woman also had problems when driving, which could be rather dangerous. As tests showed, the issue was in her Gluteal muscles, toe extensors, left ankle, and possibly in the nerve roots.
Manual therapy was used to improve the patient’s condition. This treatment included seven sessions. The therapist referred to mobilization but also used such techniques as the Maitland approach and trigger point pressure release. Several times massage and Transversus Abdominus muscle activation were chosen to cope with the symptoms. As a result of this treatment, the patient had no pain anymore. She had had a full range of lumbar movements, and a decent neurodynamic and neurological state for almost two months after the therapy.
Of course, the fact that this case is based only on one successful utilization of manual treatment prevents it from being generalized. Still, complete resolutions of all symptoms cannot be ignored.
Conclusion
Thus, manual therapy can be used to improve patient’s movement and reduce pain related to issues with joints and muscles. It can be maintained only by an educated and skillful professional due to the complexity of the therapy. Different techniques can be chosen depending on the consumer’s symptoms. Both therapists and scientists notice positive effects on manual therapy when dealing with such health problems as lumbar radiculopathy. The improvement can last for a long even after less than ten treatments.
References
Elvey, R. & O’Sullivan, P. (2005). Contemporary approach to manual therapy. Web.
Manual therapy techniques. (2016). Web.
Physical therapy. (2016). The evidence-based practice of joint manipulation/manual therapy. Web.
Riley, J. (2011). Manual therapy treatment of lumbar radiculopathy: A single case report. A Journal of Physiotherapy, 67(3), 41-45.