If you see a chiropractor that ONLY performs manipulation, you’re not getting enough.
If you hear “I’ll see you three times a week for X number of weeks” – RUN!
That’s right, you are likely at an office that only performs “spinal adjustments”. You are missing out on more effective care and about to waste a lot of time (and money!) waiting to get lasting relief.
Manual Therapy is (wikipedia) a physical treatment primarily used by massage therapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, chiropractors, osteopaths, and osteopathic physicians to treat musculoskeletal pain and disability.
You are likely more familiar with the three forms of manual therapy:
♦Manipulation – the artful introduction of a rapid rotational, shear or distraction force into a joint. These are usually associated with a “pop” (rapid gas bubble formation within joint from sudden pressure change)
♦Mobilization – a slower, more controlled process of articular and soft-tissue (myofascial) stretching intended to improve bio-mechanical elasticity.
♦Massage – typically the repetitive rubbing, stripping or kneading of myofascial tissues to principally improve interstitial fluid dynamics
Each one is powerful in its own means, but when you put them all together, you have something special.
The thing that sets manual therapy apart from other means of healthcare is that it is ALWAYS hands-on.
This is also why it is hard to produce placebo-controlled, double-blinded research into its effectiveness (how do you blind a practitioner and a patient to being touched and massaged, without either of them knowing?). Many healthcare providers will argue there is not much quality research into it’s effectiveness. The lack of research is due to the difficulty in designing a study that is blinded or creating a placebo that isn’t obvious.
Have you ever gone to a healthcare provider for a musculoskeletal issue and they did not even touch the affected area?? You’re in the wrong place. An injury doesn’t mean you instantly need X-rays and an MRI to determine the cause and assess an area. A qualified, experienced manual therapist is completely capable of examining and treating an injury without the need for expensive imaging. Manual therapists see with their hands and know what’s under your skin. This means less time, less cost, and more relief!
Most Chiropractors only use one manual therapy!
A provider that utilizes all three forms of manual therapy will get you faster results that last longer. As a provider, I know I cannot affect a joint restriction without affecting the muscles around it, and vice versa. So why treat one and not the other when I know it will be a temporary fix? Sure, if I see you more often, that pads my pockets, but it’s a waste of your time.
What to look for in a Manual Therapist:
♦A manual therapist will be up front about their techniques and why they use them
♦Manual therapists will not recommend a long-term plan, it’s based on your recovery
♦Along with in-office treatment, a manual therapist will provide at-home recommendations to prolong your relief (so you’re in office less!)
♦A manual therapist will use THEIR HANDS (or instruments as an extension to their body)
The next time you call and office for an appointment with a new provider, ask them if they provide any manual therapy, if not, keep looking or call me!
At The Human Body Shop, I include all three manual therapies (manipulation, mobilization, massage), as well as home care (stretches, exercises, self-manual therapy) at EVERY VISIT. I feel this is my duty as a chiropractor and more so as a manual therapist; to get you back on the field or playing with your kids, as quickly as possible. If you ever have any questions or are looking for a manual therapist in your area, don’t hesitate to ask. Should you want to find out what treatment like from a REAL Manual Therapist, just call!