In treating soft tissues and joint structures, physical therapists use a clinical approach known as “manual therapy,” which includes specific hands-on techniques such as manipulation and mobilization. Manual therapy services reduces pain and increases range of motion (ROM). It also reduces or eliminates soft tissue inflammation, induces relaxation, improves extensibility and stability, and facilitates movement.
Your body’s immediate response to manual therapy is a reduction in localized muscle spasms and increased range of motion. The primary nerve conduction pathway connecting your body and brain is then informed of the information.
The goal of Manual Therapy for the Elderly
The goal of manual therapy for the elderly is to assist older people in building the muscle strength they need to do daily activities, including walking, climbing stairs, and changing postures. Therefore, attending manual therapy for the elderly can assist senior citizens in maintaining their independence and stop other problems like muscle atrophy that may develop from inactivity.
It’s essential to stay active and exercise to age correctly and avoid deconditioning and chronic illnesses that worsen with inactivity. You can start living an active lifestyle immediately by going to manual therapy. Your strength, flexibility, and balance can all improved with the help of physical therapy, which can benefit you in your daily tasks at home.
What Happens During Manual Therapy
To relax the patient, lessen their pain, and increase their flexibility, manual therapy services involve the therapist manipulating the patient with their hands. It contains:
- The patient relaxed, their circulation improved, and their discomfort reduced by massaging their muscles and soft tissues.
- Mus mobilization involves gradual movements to twist, tug, and pull joints and bones into place. It may aid in increasing flexibility and loosening stiff joint tissues.
- Manipulation involves quick, decisive movements to realign joints and bones and reduce pain.
Expectations for Manual Treatment
Your therapist completes a thorough evaluation of your issue before beginning manual therapy for the elderly. An assessment of your muscles, bones, and nerves is frequently involved. After determining your pain level, they’ll decide whether or not you’re a good candidate for manual therapy services. They will then put together a treatment plan from there.
Expect the manual physical therapist to apply pressure to muscles and other soft tissues when performing delicate tissue work. The pressure aids in muscle relaxation, much like a massage. Additionally, it might improve circulation and lessen muscle pain. These workouts can also assist in removing scar tissue and moving bodily fluid.
Manual therapy services such as mobilization promote joint alignment and flexibility. Your bones and joints pulled, pushed, and twisted by the therapist to realign them. These controlled motions with a range of force and speed.
Depending on the demands of elders, several manual therapy services may be used. You can receive home exercises from your manual therapist in between appointments.
Techniques for Skillful Manual Therapy
Manual therapy services could include passive osteokinematic and arthrokinematic range of motion, manual traction, massage, mobilization/manipulation, and manual lymphatic drainage.
When examination results, diagnoses, and prognoses point to the need for manual therapy techniques, physical therapists choose, recommend, and put them into practice. Manual therapy for the elderly may be used to treat or prevent impairment in body functions and structures, activity limitations, or participation restrictions, as well as to reduce edema, pain, spasms, and swelling, improve health, wellness, and fitness, and enhance or maintain physical performance, increase mobility, and improve overall bodily function.
Most of these procedures often need the patient to lie down, exposing the skin of the area worked.
Mobilization of Soft Tissues
Physical therapists can employ numerous methods to reduce tight or spasming muscles’ pain and encourage relaxation. Typically, these approaches don’t hurt and feel great. These techniques occasionally cause a stretch for the person using them, but again, this is not usually uncomfortable.
Mobilization of Allies
Stretching structures around a person’s joint that have tightened up and are impeding the joint from moving is done with skill by a physical therapist using their hands. While these techniques are usually not painful, you might feel a significant stretch or occasionally a slight interior burning.
Thrust with a High Velocity, Low Amplitude
Physical therapists frequently use this additional manual therapy technique to help patients feel less pain and encourage muscular relaxation. The physical therapist will first put the patient in a comfortable posture—often lying down or sitting—and then quickly and gently glide their hands over a particular bone as it usually moves. Although it is not typical, it is possible to hear a “pop” when using this technique.
Benefits Of Manual Therapy
Manual therapy for the elderly is a type of rehabilitation that many patients find very helpful. The advantages only grow when one of our experts provides this care in your home. These advantages could include some of the following if you allow us to give you at-home physical therapy:
- Ensured individualized care from a licensed manual therapist.
- Please find out how to practice rehabilitation stretches and exercises after our therapist has left.
- Increase your range of motion and flexibility following an accident or surgery.
- Make it unnecessary to go for care.
- Reclaim the freedom you require to carry on with your regular activities.
