When people see massage therapists, the expectation is that they will receive hands-on treatment to improve muscle mobility and promote muscle relaxation. What most people equate chiropractic care to is the adjustment of joints, especially of the spine, as their main treatment modality. For many patients, physiotherapy care is often equated to exercise prescription. So, it’s not uncommon for individuals to seek out all three health care disciplines for what they perceive as comprehensive care: massage for their muscles, chiropractors for their joint problems, and physiotherapists for exercise advice.
The Physiotherapist’s Unique Role and Pillars of Care
In reality, the best aspect of being a physiotherapist is having the widest array of tools available among allied health care professionals to diagnose and treat neuromusculoskeletal conditions, including nerves, muscles, and joints. Muscles can be massaged, stretched, strengthened, and dry needled; joints can be mobilized and manipulated; and nerves can be mobilized as well. These diverse systems can all be exercised to promote movement. To enhance patient health effectively, physiotherapists primarily utilize three main tools or “pillars” of therapy: manual therapy, dry needling, and exercise prescription. Mastering all three of these pillars requires a lifelong commitment to continuous education, formal examinations, and specialized training.
Defining Manual Therapy
Manual therapy is the use of our hands to mobilize and manipulate muscles and joints for the purpose of reducing pain and improving mobility and function. It serves both diagnostic and treatment purposes.
Manual therapy encompasses many techniques, including:
- Joint Mobilizations: Slow, passive movements aimed at improving joint mobility and reducing stiffness.
- Joint Manipulations: More forceful, controlled movements intended to restore joint position, mobility and function.
- Soft Tissue Mobilization: Techniques focused on addressing issues with muscles, tendons, ligaments, and connective tissues.
- Muscle Energy Techniques: Active techniques that integrate muscle contractions against resistance to enhance joint movement and muscle mobility.
These techniques are often used in conjunction to alleviate pain, improve mobility, and reduce swelling, ultimately enabling individuals to move and exercise. In physiotherapy, unlike other professions, manual therapy is rarely used in isolation. When applied correctly, it should be combined with other treatments such as exercise to help patients maintain the benefits of their treatment.
The Value of Manual Therapy
During the pandemic, when our treatment visits transitioned to virtual sessions, both patients and physiotherapists notably missed the incredible benefits that manual therapy provides in both assessment and treatment. Although substantial progress was made through exercise prescription and education alone during virtual care, it became evident to everyone that a significant modality was missing to provide the best care possible. As physiotherapists, our senses enhance our practice—we observe with our eyes, listen with our ears, and feel with our hands. All of these elements contribute to our understanding and intuition regarding the patient and their condition.
Training in Manual Therapy
In physiotherapy, manual therapy is learned through a series of postgraduate courses, examinations, and training that typically takes 7-10 years to complete. It is an arduous and demanding process that few complete fully. The training is sanctioned by the Orthopedic Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association. Successful completion earns therapists the credential of being a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Manual and Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist (FCAMPT). An FCAMPT physiotherapist is also a member of the International Federation of Manual and Musculoskeletal Physical Therapists (IFOMPT), which is the international organization representing all physiotherapists who have completed this rigorous post-graduation specialization program.
Elevate Your Well-Being
If you are struggling with pain, weakness, and declining mobility and function, book an appointment with a physiotherapist here at Elevation Physiotherapy. Experience the difference that comprehensive care through Manual Therapy can provide!