Manual Therapy

Manual therapy is a physical treatment primarily to treat musculoskeletal pain and disability. It is used in order to improve mobility in areas that are restricted, such as joints, connective tissues and muscles. The most common techniques applied are massage, mobilizations, and manipulations.  

There are many reasons why someone could suffer from sore muscles or stiff joints. But what we know for sure, is that one will usually affect the other in the short or long run. Manual Therapists will try to detect the root of the pain, and see where the muscular imbalance takes place. The affected muscles will be released with a massage or stretch, before we start working on the joint mobility. With either manual mobilization or manipulation techniques, we will try recreate a healthy movement in the joint. These methods often lead to direct results and pain relief, due to the fact that they improve lubrication of the joint, and an improved blood circulation in connective tissues and muscles.  

• Maitland
• Mulligan
• McKenzie

Maitland techniques are originating from Australia. And is the treatment of functional disorders in the joint, muscle and nervous system. A Maitland therapist uses joint mobilization and manipulation, of the extremities and spine, makes use of neurodynamic techniques, muscle stretching, stabilizing exercises and specifically adapted exercises the patient can do at home.
 

This gentle and pain free technique is used to optimize joint mobility. During assessment the therapist will identify one or more comparable signs, such as; a loss of joint movement, pain associated with movement, or pain associated with specific functional activities. The treatment contains techniques in which the patient does a specific movement, while the therapist guides the joint into the right direction. The results of these techniques can be instant and long lasting.

The McKenzie approach can be a very effective way to decrease spinal pain. After an assessment of the spine and the patient's posture and symptoms, I will be able to decided if this method can be used. This technique is used to decrease the tension nerve roots, and facilitate the movement of spinal articulations.