This treatment is a hands-on approach, which may include joint mobilizations and manipulations, stretching and passive movement of muscles and joints, or having the patient move the body part against the therapist’s resistance to improve muscle activation and timing. Manual therapy also includes massage therapy, lymph drainage, traction of joints, and trigger point release therapy.
One common technique used is that of joint mobilization and joint manipulation. Joint mobilization is a form of manual therapy in which joints are moved at different velocities in certain directions in order to restore optimal range of motion within the joint, improve function, and/or to reduce pain. When done as a high velocity, low amplitude “thrust” it is known as a “joint manipulation”, with similar intentions of restoring optimal range of motion, function, and reducing pain in that joint complex.
Other common techniques include massage therapy, trigger point release, active release techniques in which a patient moves actively through a range of motion to help the therapist remove adhesions, stretching, and lymph drainage techniques.