Therapies to treat varying physical conditions have existed since eternity and with evolution in medical science, the world now knows multiple forms of therapies. Therapy can be categorized into two- Manual therapy and physical therapy. Often, people get confused between the two as both therapies tend to overlap in many ways.
To begin with, you must know that manual therapy is a subset of physical therapy. Let’s walk through a detailed guide on both kinds of therapies and methods used by experts.
What is manual therapy?
Manual therapy is a subset of physical therapy that is used by experts to treat stiffness, tension, and movement blockage in the muscles, especially soft tissue. A “hands-on” therapy method that focuses on relieving pain and allowing free movements in the body.
Manual therapy is performed by experts to manipulate soft tissue in the body that facilitates better movements. In most cases, the therapy includes oscillatory techniques, high-velocity amplitude thrust techniques, sustained stretching, and muscle energy techniques to release pain and blockage.
What is physical therapy?
Physical therapy is exactly what the name suggests- A therapy performed physically to treat physical dysfunctions in the body. This type of therapy is performed to offer an improved range of movement, recover injuries, and an overall improvement in the everyday quality of life.
Physical therapy is performed by a licensed therapist at different types of institutions including healthcare institutions like INPC, rehabilitation centers, home health, sports and fitness homes, etc.
How is manual therapy different from physical therapy?
Contrary to popular belief, manual therapy, and physical therapy have several differences fundamentally based on the treatment needs. Here’s how manual therapy techniques differ from physical:
- Approach
Manual therapy treatments focus on manipulation techniques paired with tissue and joint mobilization. Physical therapy takes a different approach by emphasizing exercises, stretches, modalities, and physiotherapy. The approach to handling a condition is the primary difference between these.
- Treatment process
Manual therapy is mostly recommended to deal with inflammation and physical therapy focuses on stretches and strength. To simplify it, let’s take an example- Say you visit a doctor to treat an underlying joint pain, your doctor might suggest your manual therapies to heal the pain followed by physical therapy exercises to increase strength.
- Treatment target
Manual therapy benefits you if you are suffering from dysfunctions like neck pain, wrist pain, ankle pain, shoulder pain, etc, and under physical therapy you can expect relaxation of pelvic pain, arthritis, motor vehicle injury, etc. Remember that medical therapy might overlap with physical therapy to create a joint approach for your condition.
- Types
Another factor that differentiates physical therapy from manual therapy is the methods used. In the former, your doctor will recommend stretches, neurological treatment, kinesio taping, or active exercises while manual therapy uses methods like joint mobilization, soft-tissue mobilization, active-release techniques, etc.
Which therapy do you need?
Now that you have an understanding of both kinds of therapies, the next question is which therapy do you need? To get a credible answer you can consult a team of experts who specialize in pain management like Indiana Neurology and Pain Center. Pain assessment by looking at your medical history and conducting a physical diagnosis is crucial to finding the right therapy for your condition.
Finding the right therapy for you is divided into two steps:
- Asses
This involves assessment of the patient’s medical history including cardiopulmonary and neurological levels.
- Diagnosis
his involves conducting a physical diagnosis of the patient to determine the pain area and triggers.
Opting for physical or manual therapy for pain relief without consulting a professional is not recommended to ensure that you are not stretching the wrong muscle or manipulating the wrong tissue.
Pain management therapies at INPC
Regardless of which therapy your doctor suggests, both physical and manual therapy can treat multiple types of joint and muscle pain. Let’s explore pain management therapies that you can get at a reputed medical institution like Indiana Neurology and Pain Center:
- Manual therapy
At INPC, a team of experts is dedicated to creating an accurate non-invasive manual therapy training schedule for you. This type of therapy can be used to treat a series of conditions causing discomfort in everyday activities and mostly includes manipulation techniques to guide muscles and also includes physiotherapy.
- Orthopedic rehabilitation
Treating a condition or dysfunction in the body to gain instant results is important. However, finding the right healing techniques for the long run plays a vital role. Orthopedic rehabilitation focuses on healing, repairing, and regaining the independence of joints and muscles for free and relaxed movements.
- Kinesio taping
Kinesio taping is a popular therapy method that is performed using kinesio tex tapes. These tapes are designed to mimic the elasticity of muscles allowing your muscles to move freely. Kinesio tapes feature different colors with each having a separate role in offering pain relief and aiding muscle movement. This type of therapy is often used in the world of sports to heal an internal muscle/tissue injury.
- Trigger point therapy
Trigger point therapy is known for its quick results and speedy recovery. A traditional neuromuscular therapy, here your doctor focuses on finding the pain trigger points to apply pressure in a way that releases tightness and open knots. You would be recommended a trigger point therapy to help you get your lost movements back.
- Electric stimulations
Electric stimulations are hands-down one of the finest methods of therapy to treat discomfort in muscles and relax pain. As the name suggests, under this electro stimulations/pulses are used to help heal injured muscles. These electric pulses are proven to be effective in creating repeated contractions and improving blood flow for instant results.
- Neurological rehabilitation
Neurological conditions have been seen to restrict a person’s physical movements and therefore neurological rehabilitation is a reliable method. The aim is to manipulate the nervous system to reduce pain and improve overall movement. This type of therapy is effective in treating different types of injuries in the nervous system, as well.
Conclusion
You can unlock your journey to a pain-free life with either of these various manual therapies. While there are differences between manual and physical therapy, doctors often find a joint approach reliable to treat a condition for instant yet long-lasting results. Opting for therapy includes manipulation and strengthening of your muscles and soft tissue making it important that you choose a credible team of experts. At Indiana Neurology and Pain Center, certified therapists have expertise in the field of neurology and pain management.
Get in touch with experts at INPC through:
- 7301 N Shadeland Ave, Clinic 1A Physical Therapy 1C, Indianapolis, IN 46250. Contact Number- 317-939-6100.
- 3850 Shore Drive, Clinic 203, Physical Therapy 201, Indianapolis, IN 46254. Contact Number- 317-939-6100.