Massage vs. Manual Therapy
When attending physical therapy at OMPT Specialists you will be exposed to the newest high level techniques in manual therapy. One may not notice the difference between regular massage and the techniques that are performed during your physical therapy session. Manual therapy is an umbrella term that encompasses a wide array of techniques and concepts.
- Functional Massage: technique where range of motion is used along with manual pressure to muscle.
- Manual Muscle Stretching: where you use contraction and relaxation techniques to stimulate muscle relaxation and further stretching.
- Soft tissue mobilization: use of manual pressure working along the muscle fibers, cross fiber, or even muscle bending techniques (closely related to massage therapy)
- Joint mobilization/manipulation: sustained holds or quick impulses that are used to increase mobility in the joint capsule and therefore increase range of motion.
By Kaitlyn Mosher, PT, DPT, KEOMPT