What’s the Difference between Manual Therapy and Massage Therapy?
One common misconception of physical therapists is that they offer massage during treatment. Many use manual therapy and massage therapy interchangeably. However, physical therapists provide manual therapy to patients, not massage. There are fundamental differences between manual therapy and massage therapy.
What is Massage Therapy?
Massage therapy involves the use of rhythmically applied pressure to the skin and soft tissues of the body. Massage is geared toward reducing tension, anxiety, and stress and promoting circulation and relaxation. Massage therapists are required to complete 2 years of study and must have a state license to perform massage therapy.
What is Manual Therapy?
Manual therapy is a hands-on technique designed to regain movement, activate muscles, and reduce inflammation. To perform manual therapy techniques requires significant training in human anatomy and physiology and understanding how manipulating tissues will impact physical function. Manual therapy is performed by experienced and specially trained physical therapists who are required to have higher-level education and a state license to practice in the state.
The physical therapist completes a thorough evaluation to assess a patient’s condition and determines which manual therapy techniques will help the patient regain function, enhance the healing process, and increase the range of motion in joints. Manual therapy can drastically reduce pain and inflammation by targeting affected areas of the body to improve overall muscle function by relieving muscle tension and increasing circulation to the surrounding area. Manual therapy is often used in the treatment of chronic back pain, muscle tension in the neck and shoulders, issues with joint mobility, and headaches and migraines.
There are several types of manual therapy that physical therapists perform:
Soft tissue Mobilizations: This technique is used on your muscles, ligaments, and fascia to break down adhesions which can restrict movement and optimize muscle function using deep pressure and gentle stretching techniques.
Joint Mobilizations: This technique involves gentle movements that increase the range of motion slowly without aggravating sore or stiff joints. The therapist uses skilled, graded force to glide the joint to improve motion and normalize joint function.
Myofascial Release: This technique involves gentle sustained pressure into the myofascial connective tissues to restore fascial elasticity, blood flow, and motion.
Dry Needling: This technique involves the use of thin filament needles that are inserted through the skin into trigger points to stimulate the tissue.
Muscle Energy Techniques: This technique is used to help lengthen muscles that have been shortened over time or that do not move well and address pelvic asymmetry.
Manual Traction: A technique in which the therapist uses the hands to exert controlled gentle force to the cervical spine, leg, or back to reduce pain and possible numbness in your extremities.
Cupping: Cupping uses silicone cups to cause the skin to rise and blood vessels to expand, lifting and separating tissue by creating suction, which improves blood flow and relaxation and reduces pain.
Thrust Manipulation: This technique involves a targeted high-velocity, low amplitude thrust of a joint of the body to decrease pain.
Strain-Counter-Strain: This technique involves mild stretching of muscles with periods of rest to relax a tight muscle and reduce muscle spasms.
Lymphedema: Treatment of lymphedema involves manual therapy using manual lymphatic drainage to remove excess fluid from an affected area.
Are you dealing with chronic pain and muscle tightness? Call our physical therapists today to begin managing your pain and restoring function and mobility to your joints and muscles!
