Manual Therapy

Manual physical therapy is a specialized form of physical therapy delivered with the hands as opposed to a device or machine. In manual therapy, practitioners use their hands to put pressure on muscle tissue and manipulate joints in an attempt to decrease joint pain caused by muscle spasm, muscle tension and joint dysfunction.  

In general, manual physical therapy techniques employ the following types of movement:

Soft tissue work, including massage, which applies pressure to the soft tissues of the body such as the muscles. This pressure can help relax muscles, increase circulation, break up scar tissue, and ease pain in the soft tissues.

Mobilization/manipulation, which uses measured movements of varying speed (slow to fast), force (gentle to forceful), and distances (called ‘amplitude’) to twist, pull, or push bones and joints into position. This can help loosen tight tissues around a joint, reduce pain in a joint and surrounding tissue, and help with flexibility and alignment.

Other manual treatments include myofascial release, craniosacral techniques, mobilization of neural tissue, visceral mobilization and strain/counter strain.

Our Manual Therapy Specialists

Michelle Alberghini, PT
Sue Arbogast, PT
Sarah Bache, PT
Karla Bartolomei, PT
Tricia Dwyer, PT
Pam Eldredge-Chevalier, PT
Heather Flannigan, PT
Julie Giffin, PT
Linda Helms, PT
Jessica Olive, PT
Sarah Pashby, PT
Robert Patterson, PT
Rebecca Reed, PT
Lorelei Wyman, PT