There is a wide choice of professionals in this field in the Netherlands. They take your complaints seriously and you can go to them for pain in your joints, among other things. Are you wondering what exactly a manual therapist does and when to engage it? You read it below!
What is Manual Therapy?
Manual therapy can be described as a specialization that is applied in the treatment of spinal complaints and joint pain in the arms and legs. The goal is to reduce the pain as quickly as possible. The practitioner will first look at how you move and will then ensure that you can move your joints smoothly again. This gradually reduces your discomfort.
How does this form of therapy work?
Everyone has their own way of moving. When your actual way of moving is different from the preferred way, you will notice that you get physical complaints. With manual therapy you can make the difference between the actual movement pattern and the ideal pattern smaller. Once your therapist has identified your ideal movement pattern, he will manipulate your joints to better match your preferred mode of movement. This means that he applies a certain pressure technique that ensures that the load on your body decreases.
When can manual therapy be used?
You can use this form of treatment if you have a headache or neck pain. It can also happen that the upper part of your back feels stiff or that the neck pain radiates to your arm. You can also visit a manual therapist for complaints high in the back, where you also experience rib and chest pain. Frequently heard discomforts are also lower back pain, hip complaints, tennis elbow or dizziness caused by the movement of the neck. Finally, pain and stiffness in the shoulder are also reasons to contact a manual therapist.
What can a manual therapist do?
Do you wonder what this therapist can and may do? The specialization of this therapist is the examination and treatment of patients with movement and pain complaints. He applies specialized techniques that make your joints function better. These can include exercises to train your strength, coordination or stability. Your posture and your way of moving will improve with this form of treatment. Do you need a referral from your GP for this? That is allowed, but it is not necessary.
What kind of training does a manual therapist follow?
Manual therapists have first completed a study of physiotherapy. They then followed a three-year training for manual therapist. Did you know that people who immediately make an appointment in case of ailments suffer less from their complaints and also experience less pain?
What can you expect when you have made an appointment?
If you visit a manual therapist, you will first examine with him or her how your physical problems arose and in which situations they arise. The therapist looks at your posture, how you move and examines your muscles and joints. Sometimes you do some exercises together to determine whether this form of therapy is useful for your condition. If this is the case, the therapist will draw up a plan of action and discuss it with you. This gives you more insight into, for example, the number of treatments you need and how long it will take before your complaints will decrease.
What is the difference between manual therapy and physiotherapy?
A frequently asked question is how manual therapy differs from physiotherapy. The former form of treatment is a specialization within physiotherapy and the manual therapist is therefore often called in for more complex questions. The biggest difference between the two healing methods is mainly in the way of treatment. For example, a manual therapist uses different techniques than a physiotherapist. These techniques are also known as mobilizations and manipulations. A manipulation, or pressure technique, is a mobilization in which you can hear a kind of snapping sound during the treatment. You will feel this, but it is not painful.