Manual Therapy

Manual therapy is a hands-on form of physiotherapy in which a trained therapist uses skilled movements of the hands to treat pain and stiffness in the joints, muscles and soft tissues. Rather than simply easing discomfort, it works to restore the quality of movement, free up restricted joints, release muscle tension and help the body move comfortably again. It is a clinical, assessment-led treatment planned after a physician and physiotherapist examination, and is quite different from a relaxing massage. International guidelines consider it most effective for musculoskeletal problems when it is combined with exercise and good patient education. Many people travel abroad to complete an intensive, well-supervised course of manual therapy within a structured rehabilitation programme.