Manual Therapy
Manual therapy is hands-on physical therapy: your therapist uses their hands to move stiff joints and loosen tight muscle and soft tissue so you can move with less pain. We offer manual physical therapy at our clinic in Chubbuck, Idaho, for patients from Chubbuck and Pocatello, and Jared Pugmire, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT, Dip Osteopractic, Cert. SMT/DN/VCS leads it, with an advanced orthopedic manual therapy fellowship and osteopractic diploma behind his work.
What hands-on physical therapy means here
Manual therapy is not the same as chiropractic care or a spa massage. Your therapist applies pressure and movement directly to muscles and joints, with no machine and no medication, to ease pain, improve circulation and restore motion after an injury or surgery. Often it is also how your therapist assesses a problem at your first visit.
Orthopedic manual therapy covers a handful of techniques. At your evaluation we pick the ones that fit what we find, and most often pair them with exercise.
The hands-on techniques we use
Some are passive, where the therapist does the work. Others are active, where you add light effort.
Joint mobilization
Slow, graded movement of a stiff joint, working up to its natural limit. It is aimed at pain and at the quality of joint motion. More on it in the next section.
Soft tissue mobilization
Deep, rhythmic pressure on tight muscle, such as the muscles along the spine after a back injury, to break up scar tissue, ease tension and move fluid through the tissue.
Spinal manipulation
A quick, controlled movement that takes a restricted joint to its edge to help it open and close more freely. Some people hear a pop. It should not be painful.
Muscle energy technique
You press lightly against the therapist's counterforce in a set direction, which helps stretch shortened muscle and get a stuck joint moving.
Strain-counterstrain
Gentle positioning and mild stretching to calm an overactive muscle reflex. It is gentle enough to use even with severe back pain.
Tool-assisted soft tissue work
For stubborn scar tissue we sometimes use a smooth hand-held tool. See instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization.
Joint mobilization and when it is used
Joints rely on both stability and mobility. When one gets irritated, swollen or stiff after an injury, repetitive strain or age-related wear, nearby muscles, tendons and ligaments tighten to protect it, and pain follows. In joint mobilization your therapist moves the joint with their hands, or sometimes with a strap, using force and direction matched to your anatomy.
We use it for conditions such as arthritis of the shoulder, spine, elbow, hip and knee, frozen shoulder, tennis and golfer's elbow, ankle sprains, whiplash and sciatica-type nerve irritation. It is not right for every patient, which is why your therapist examines you first.
What to expect when you are treated
Visits at our Chubbuck, Idaho clinic usually run 30 to 60 minutes, and how many visits you need depends on your problem and goals. In the room:
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing so the area can be reached; your privacy and comfort come first
- Your therapist explains how to sit or lie and what you will feel before starting
- Expect pressure, stretching and movement of the joint, and light soreness afterward in some cases
- You will leave with exercises, because hands-on care works best when you then use the motion it gives you
What manual therapy is used for
It shows up in plans for pain after injury or surgery, including:
Pairing it with other care, cost and who treats you
We often combine manual therapy with dry needling when muscle knots are part of the problem. It is a way to ease pain and restore movement as part of a plan, not a fix on its own.
Idaho allows direct access to physical therapy, so you do not need a referral from a doctor to begin. Some insurance plans, and Medicare typically, may still require one. If you are unsure, call us and we will check your plan.
We accept most insurance plans and verify your benefits before you arrive. Auto injury liens, Medpay and workers compensation are accepted, and there is a self-pay option. Call the office to confirm your plan.
Manual therapy in Chubbuck, Idaho
Call or request an appointment at our Chubbuck clinic. We see patients from Chubbuck, Pocatello and the surrounding area.
We see patients at our Chubbuck clinic from Chubbuck and Pocatello, Idaho.