Manual Therapy Southampton
At PhysioCraft, Southampton, we provide expert manual therapy to help patients recover, relieve pain, and improve movement. If you are searching for physical therapy near me, our physiotherapist can assess your condition and provide personalised treatment plans.
What is Manual Therapy?
Manual therapy (MT), sometimes called manual medicine, is a hands-on physiotherapy technique where a therapist mobilises, manipulates, and compresses joints, muscles, fascia, and soft tissues to restore movement and reduce pain. It helps diagnose and treat reversible problems of the musculoskeletal system.
Through detailed differentiation tests, a physiotherapist determines whether the root cause of symptoms comes from joints, soft tissues, nerves, or other structures. Using precise grips and movements, manual therapy allows assessment of joint mobility, tissue sensitivity, and functional limitations.
Manual therapy is safe, effective, and can prevent long-term musculoskeletal disorders. Therapists select techniques based on thorough interviews and assessments, utilising approaches such as the McKenzie method, Mulligan Concept, Dr Ackermann method, fascial therapy, trigger points, PNF, PIR, dry needling, and lymphatic drainage.
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Conditions Treated with Manual Therapy
One of the most effective manual therapy methods is the Mulligan Concept, which combines the patient’s active movement with pressure applied by the therapist. It is a mobilisation therapy with movement and/or taping the joint in a corrected position. Stabilisation belts can also be used for treatments. You should feel no pain during the procedure. The therapist uses an appropriate number of repetitions of the technique that brings relief from the very first treatment.
The Mulligan method applies to a variety of health problems:
- Pain in the limbs and spine
- Degeneration
- Golfer’s and tennis elbow
- Migraines
- In limited mobility in the joints
- Incorrect body posture
- Acute pain conditions
The research conducted by G. Espí-López et al. showed that manual therapy reduces symptoms of tension headache. They concluded that the use of various combinations of forms of therapy (spine manipulations, cervical mobilisation, trigger points, craniocervical techniques, exercises) reduce the intensity and frequency of symptoms.
In their research, Espejo- Antúnez L. et al. compared the release of trigger points by dry needling to no intervention. The results of the research suggest that dry needling increases the range of motion and alleviates pain. They point to the need of conducting more detailed studies to assess the impact on disability or drug use.
A 2014 study by Xinjian Li found that combination therapy (acupuncture, massage, block therapy) was more effective in treating external numerus inflammation.
Many studies have confirmed the effectiveness of manual therapy. It is most beneficial for the patient when the MT is combined with an exercise program tailored to the disease problems.
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What to Expect During a Manual Therapy Session
Manual therapy is a therapeutic and diagnostic method which, depending on the patient and his illness or ailments, may have a different course. Basically the therapist lays or seats the patient on the couch. The therapeutic treatment usually consists of quick and decisive movements, putting pressure on individual points on the spine. While doing this, you may hear the characteristic crunch noise, but this is not a symptom that should be alarming. This sound is caused by the displacement of the peripheral joints to their proper position. Effective manual therapy can be helpful for many people with musculoskeletal disorders.
Indications for Manual Therapy
Manual therapy can be used for a variety of problems, especially pain related problems. This method of treatment brings measurable benefits, especially in pain related to the bones, spine, lumbar and other parts of the body. A manual therapist during rehabilitation and after an interview with the patient at that time helps in the treatment of muscle tension disorders in the pelvic area, pollakiuria, sciatica, migraines, as well as in correcting posture and the entire motor apparatus defects. Manual therapy is an extremely effective method that brings you quick pain relief.
Contraindications to manual therapy
Manual therapy is a fairly safe method of physiotherapy. However, it is not recommended for people who struggle with haemorrhoids, organic diseases of the digestive tract end, advanced osteoporosis and impaired blood clotting. Pregnant women should also not undergo manual therapy.
Physical Therapy Near Me in Southampton
If you are searching for physical therapy near me in Southampton, PhysioCraft offers expert manual therapy tailored to your needs. Our hands-on techniques, combined with personalised exercise programmes, improve mobility, relieve pain, and restore function — helping you return to everyday life as quickly as possible.
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