If you have never heard of functional manual therapy, you may be unsure what sets it apart from other kinds of physical therapy. While traditional physical therapy is often centered on exercise, this isn't always the best option for patients who suffer from problems with their mobility. An injury can often lead to an inability to perform everyday tasks without help, or difficulty with getting from place to place.
This loss of independence can be extremely frustrating and discouraging for many patients. That is where functional manual therapy comes in. It is a set of techniques specially designed to help patients by promoting movement, reducing pain, restoring function and preventing physical disability.
Physical therapists who use functional manual therapy have undergone additional training with an emphasis on restoring the patient's full function and range of motion. For patients who have suffered from an injury, functional manual therapy could be just the thing you need.
How can functional manual therapy help with injury recovery?
Functional manual therapy is designed to help patients who have suffered an injury to become self-sufficient again. This is achieved using three steps:
- Restoring efficient mobility ” After an injury, a patient's inability to use their full range of motion can put strain on other parts of the body. A functional manual therapist is trained to identify problems with a patient's mobility and work with the patient to correct them.
- Neuromuscular reeducation ” The connection between the brain and the muscles is what helps the body know when, where and how quickly to move. The signals between your brain and your muscles can become jammed after an injury.
One of the ways functional manual therapy helps with injury recovery is by restoring these signals. A therapist using these techniques can help you retrain your movements, which can help you regain your function and prevent injury in the future.
- Improving motor control ” The third step in functional manual therapy focuses on proper movement and motor control. This can include everyday activities such as walking, lifting, and sitting, as well as movements that are used to perform well at work or to play sports.
Alliance PTP is ready to help you find top-notch PT for regaining your full function after an injury
At Alliance Physical Therapy Partners, we're proudly bringing together physical therapy practices across the country to help people get the high-quality PT they need. Want to see a physical therapist in person? We can put you in touch with an Alliance PTP partner that's close to you and that can help you address your function and mobility after you've been injured.
Not keen on in-person PT sessions or not close to an Alliance PTP partner? No worries. We also offer effective and affordable virtual physical therapy through our Agile Virtual Physical Therapy platform.
Contact our team today so we can help you find the most effective physical therapy services for your injury or condition.
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