Physical therapy is a healthcare profession that improves your ability to move and manage pain or other symptoms of illness or injury. A physical therapist (PT) helps patients of all ages.

A physical therapist will perform hands-on treatment and teach you special exercises. The goal is to reduce your symptoms and improve your overall quality of life.

Manual therapy

Manual therapy includes a variety of techniques that involve physical force applied by hand to muscles, bones and joints. It can include joint manipulation, soft tissue mobilization, myofascial release and strain counterstrain. It has been shown to have positive effects on nerve conductivity, circulation and muscle function.

The physical therapist will perform an evaluation before beginning manual therapy. This will involve a Q&A session and an objective assessment of the muscles, bones and nerves to determine your diagnosis.

Manipulation techniques vary from high-velocity thrusts to a gentle sustained stretch or oscillatory movement. The therapist may also use tools to improve the effectiveness of a treatment. They can be used to increase the range of motion of a joint, reduce pain and stiffness, or help break up scar tissue.

Lying traction

Lying traction is when you lie on the treatment table and two velcro belts are placed around your torso – one above the pelvis and the other below the rib cage. The therapist will pull down on the belt above your pelvis and gently push back up the belt below your rib cage, producing a gentle stretch on the lower back.

Several studies suggest that traction improves lumbar pain and disability. The results are not conclusive, however, because of limited high-quality evidence.

Traction is a mechanical modality that involves pulling or “distracting” your spine or joints longitudinally (lengthwise). It relieves pressure on spinal discs, widens the spaces between spinal bones, stretches ligaments, straightens spinal curves and reduces muscle spasms. It can be applied continuously or intermittently.

Joint mobilization

Your physical therapist will use techniques like joint mobilization to encourage your joints to move correctly. This can help with conditions like arthritic pain and stiffness or with tight muscles, like those found in shoulder impingement syndrome. These techniques also can help tense muscles relax and decrease the compression of nerves around the joints.

Joint mobilization involves stabilizing one area of the joint while applying pressure on another part to improve the mobility of the joint. This skilled manual technique is based on your comfort levels and is performed with different intensity, or grades. A physical therapist can choose the grade that best suits your needs, including whether or not you have tissue instability in the area being treated.

Massage

Therapeutic massage involves the manipulation of soft tissues of the body – including the muscles. The goal is to improve circulation, ease pain and stiffness, and reduce inflammation.

Massage is a common practice in most cultures. It is also being increasingly used in conventional health care settings, such as hospices and units for patients with profound disabilities.

Medical massages are usually carried out by physiotherapists or chiropractors, but can also be done by nurses or midwives. In addition to helping to relieve muscle pain, therapeutic massage increases skin and regional warmth and boosts energy and alertness. It also improves waste management, decreases blood pressure and heart rate, and enhances the immune system. However, certain conditions, such as deep vein thrombosis or tumors, make it unadvisable to get a massage.

Hot packs

Hot packs are a common modality used in physical therapy clinics. They are applied to the injured area by your physical therapist (PT). PT wraps moist heat packs in several layers of towels and applies them directly on the exposed body part that needs treatment. But why does your PT use heat, and are there risks to using it?

Moist heat packs are more effective than dry heat packs because they penetrate the soft tissue and help relax tight muscles. It also aids in improving the tissue extensibility, which is critical to a good range of motion and reducing pain.

Moreover, it helps block pain signals from reaching the brain and enhances blood flow, getting rid of lactic acid accumulation. However, it’s important to consult a medical professional to ensure that using heat is safe for you.