Treatment
Manual therapy
Hands-on treatment of joints and soft tissue to restore movement and settle pain.
Photograph: Yan Krukau, Pexels
In one paragraph
Manual therapy is hands-on treatment: mobilising stiff joints, releasing tight muscle and fascia, and moving nerves that have lost their glide. It settles pain and restores movement so that exercise can do its work. Techniques are chosen for the joint and the stage of the problem, and adjusted to what you can tolerate.
How it goes
- 01Joint mobilisation
Graded, repeated movements applied to a stiff joint to restore its glide and range.
- 02Soft-tissue work
Release of tight or guarded muscle so a joint can move and a nerve can slide.
- 03Nerve mobilisation
Gentle techniques that give an irritated nerve room and movement, used for tingling arms and legs.
- 04Carried home
Each hands-on gain is paired with a movement you do yourself, so it holds between visits.
What to expect
You may feel a stretch or pressure; you are told what to expect before each technique, and nothing is forced.
Questions
Will my joints be cracked?
Only if a manipulation is appropriate for you and you agree to it; most mobilisation is slow and graded, with no crack.
Will I be sore afterwards?
Sometimes mildly, for a day; the treatment dose is adjusted at the next visit.
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