Sometimes your car needs a good wash, clay rub to remove dirt, an alignment because it pulls to the right when driving, or sometimes, some tape to hold the whole thing together. Manual Therapy allows us to to fine tune the human body. Manual Therapy consists of using our hands to help relieve pain, improve movement, and enhance function.
Spinal Manipulation or Joint Manipulation - The goal of manipulation is to get something that is stuck to move. The primary benefit is reduced pain, corrected movement, and boosted muscular activation. If indicated and appropriate, we will perform this to help achieve your goals.
Spinal and Joint Mobilization - The purpose behind moving joints is to help with pain, improve movement, and to restore the body's natural patterns.
Soft Tissue Mobilization - The idea is to get the various layers of tissues to move and move appropriately. This technique can include: myofascial release techniques, trigger point releases, cross fiber mobilization, strain-counterstrain, and other techniques that may assist in aiding proper movement and the return to function.
Instrument assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization - Basically using a metal tool to cause a tissue change. This is also referred to as: scraping and gua sha. Though the name of some of the tools that some PTs may use, Graston (R) or Graston Technique (R), are no different.
Cupping - This technique uses suction based cups to lift the skin to cause a tissue effect as well. These will often leave a bruise as they draw blood to the affected area.
Taping - Taping is used to either unload or offload a structure or a joint or for fluid dynamics. There are several types of tapes used and the purpose is what defines them.
- Kinesiotape (R) is what most people are familiar with and generally is used to improve the flow of fluid around an area and does not quite provide "support."
- Leukotape is a more rigid tape, which is often used to unload a structure or a joint that is causing pain.
The SHOP uses manual therapy to find solutions to pain and lack of quality movement to treat Springfield, MO and the surrounding area.
