An effective group of techniques designed to decrease pain and improve range of motion and flexibility to stiff joints and muscles.

What does manual physical therapy involve?

Manual physical therapy involves one-on-one, hands-on, active and passive intervention techniques. We have found it is most effective when combined with therapeutic exercise and patient education.

How is it approached at Fort Lee Physical Therapy?

Before designing a treatment program, your physical therapist will first assess joint alignment and mobility; muscle length, strength and balance; and the movement coordination of any injured joints and muscles in functional patterns.

As two key components, your manual physical therapy treatment will involve mobilization and manipulation – skilled, passive movements to joints and their associated soft tissue structures. Other hands-on techniques may also be used, such as massage, stretching and deep pressure. In addition, there are several therapeutic techniques designed to improve movement patterns, including neuromuscular re-education, motor control training and core stabilization training. These techniques require advanced training and education that can only be provided by a physical therapist.

What is the goal?

The goal of manual physical therapy is the restoration of injured tissues to normal function. Once your pain has been reduced and joint mobility improved, it will be much easier for you to regain optimal and efficient movement patterns and restore maximum function.

Who will benefit?

Individuals with a variety of disabilities and orthopedic conditions that result in disorders of movement will benefit from manual physical therapy. We have found that manual physical therapy combined with therapeutic exercise can produce rapid pain relief and improvement in function.

Why is it a specialty at Fort Lee Physical Therapy?

Many of our therapists have advanced training in manual physical therapy and movement dysfunctions. We have therapists who are board certified or board eligible as Orthopaedic Clinical Specialists by the American Physical Therapy Association; have advanced certification in manual therapy; and are Fellows in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy.