Manual therapy is helpful for the treatment of joints and muscles that lack adequate mobility and range of motion. This limitation can cause discomfort, pain, and an alteration in function, posture, and movement. Manual physical therapy involves restoring mobility to stiff joints and reducing muscle tension in order to return the patient to more natural movement without pain. Thus, manual physical therapy may provide both acute and chronic pain relief.

Research has proven that manual therapy in combination with other more traditional physiotherapy treatments provides the most effective treatment. 

In general, manual physical therapy techniques employ the following types of treatment:

      Joint Mobilization can be a rhythmic oscillation or a sustained pressure applied to the joints of the body.  This will help to decrease pain as well as restore normal mobility and function.

     Joint Manipulation involves a skilled, quick, passive movement applied by a manual therapist to a specific joint.  This will help decrease pain as well as restore normal mobility and function.

      Soft tissue work (including massage, trigger point therapy, etc.), which is applied to the muscles. This will help relax muscles, increase circulation, break up scar tissue, and ease pain in the soft tissue.

A first visit to Kelowna Manual Therapy Centre will include:

• A thorough history
• Biomechanical evaluation of the relevant injured or painful area
• Explanantion of the assessment findings
• Treatment