Manual therapy

A manual therapist is a physical therapist who has subsequently completed training in manual therapy. Manual therapy aims to make joints function better and to improve posture and movement.

There are different approaches within manual therapy, which are more or less similar. A commonality is that all manual therapists have learned extra techniques during their studies aimed at getting the joints to function better and improving posture and movement.

Special attention is paid to the spine. The techniques used are also called mobilizations and manipulations. Mobilizations are gentle movements that the manual therapist performs in a joint. With manipulations, a quick, sudden movement is made during which a 'pop' may be heard.

You can consult the manual therapist with a variety of symptoms such as headaches, neck, back, and hip complaints. But for symptoms of other joints, manual therapy can also provide a solution. After a treatment, there is often an immediate improvement in terms of more mobility and/or less pain. After the manual therapist has done their work, they will also give exercises and advice to further reduce the symptoms or to prevent them from returning in the future.

Appointment with a manual therapist

The first visit to a manual therapist consists of three parts. First, they will want to find out whether you are in the right place with a manual therapist. If this is the case, there will be an interview to gain insight into the symptoms.

Then a physical examination will take place to see how the posture and movement of the joints are doing. Based on these three parts, it is then determined what the (probable) cause of the symptoms is and what can be done about it.

Depending on the type of symptoms, a treatment will then be started in which the manual therapist applies their specific techniques. Often, exercises and advice are then provided to further reduce the symptoms and to prevent recurrence of the symptoms.

Where does a manual therapist work?

A manual therapist often works in a private practice but can also be affiliated with a rehabilitation center or hospital. They collaborate with primary care physicians or specialists in the hospital.

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Although many practices employ a manual therapist, you will not find this specialty in every physical therapy practice. Use the search function below to find registered manual therapists in your place of residence.