Manual therapy
The purpose of manual therapy is on the one hand to improve the functioning of the joints and on the other hand to improve posture and movement as a whole. For this the manual therapist uses a number of specific techniques that can be applied in the joints. A professional with a master’s degree in manual therapy has, after completing his/her physical therapy study, continued for 3 or 4 years, to give substance to manual therapy in a scientific way. He/she knows national and international guidelines, with Australia and New Zealand in particular leading the way. This extra knowledge will be used in diagnostics and in drawing up a treatment plan for the patient.
More about manual therapy
When should you visit a manual therapist?
Examples of health problems that the manual therapist can help you with:
– Head and neck pain in combination with poor spinal movement.
– Neck and shoulder complaints in combination with radiation to the arms.
– Low back pain, chronic / recurrent or with radiation to the legs.
– Specific back complaints (radiculopathy, channel stenosis).
– Complaints high in the back, whether or not in combination with rib and chest pain.
– Dizziness where the cause may lie in the neck.
– Jaw complaints, whether or not in combination with neck complaints.
– Arthrosis and other hip complaints.
Therapy / treatment
The treatment consists of passively mobilizing or manipulating techniques. This is supported with exercise therapy, advice and instruction. In addition, it is important to work on a better posture and movement techniques when performing work, sports and hobbies.