Why You Need Hands-On Care: Charleston's Guide to Manual Therapy
If you've heard the term “manual therapy” and wondered what it means, we're here to help! Joint Effort is home to Heather Felde, the only Certified Functional Manual Therapist (CFMT) in the greater Charleston area, and Heather is breaking down what manual therapy is, how it works and how it can help you move better.
What Is Manual Therapy?
Manual therapy is a type of physical therapy that uses hands-on techniques to improve mobility and help you move more comfortably. Treatment may involve mobilizing joints, muscles, fascia, nerves and even structures surrounding internal organs.
During manual therapy, your physical therapist works directly with you, using hands-on techniques to assess tissue quality, identify restrictions and address specific movement limitations.
The goal is to improve your mobility so you can get more out of your exercises and everyday movements.
At Joint Effort Movement Center, our one-on-one treatment sessions allow us to take an individualized, hands-on approach to care.
How Is Manual Therapy Used?
Here are a few examples of how manual therapy may be incorporated into your treatment:
Mobilizing the tibia and femur to help restore knee mobility after a knee replacement.
Using hands-on resistance to help your body activate specific muscles.
Addressing muscle tension in the neck to improve your ability to turn your head and potentially reduce headaches.
Who Can Benefit From Manual Therapy?
Manual therapy can be used to address movement limitations throughout the body and may benefit a wide range of patients.
It can be particularly helpful for individuals who:
Experience limited mobility or stiffness.
Have difficulty with body awareness or positioning.
Are recovering from surgery.
Have developed protective movement patterns due to pain, injury or a chronic condition.
In these situations, manual therapy can help address areas that aren't moving well and reduce restrictions that make movement uncomfortable or difficult, but improving mobility is only part of the process. We also work to help your body incorporate that movement into everyday activities.
By combining hands-on treatment with movement retraining and exercise, we aim to help you move more efficiently and confidently!
What to Expect During a Manual Therapy Session
First, manual therapy isn't the same as a massage.
While both involve hands-on techniques, manual therapy is targeted toward specific movement limitations identified during your physical therapy assessment. Some techniques may provide immediate relief, while others may cause temporary tenderness or soreness.
Treatment doesn't always happen lying on a table, either. Depending on your needs, manual therapy may be performed while you're sitting, standing or moving through different positions. Your session may also include exercises that help you incorporate improvements in mobility into functional movements, such as reaching, squatting or activities specific to your goals.
At Joint Effort, we believe hands-on treatment and movement work together. Our goal isn't simply to help you feel better during your appointment. It's to help you move better in the activities that matter most to you.
Ready to Move Better?
Heather Felde, PT, CFMT, combines hands-on treatment with personalized movement strategies to help you move more comfortably and confidently.
Comments