Manual Therapy in Southend-on-Sea & Leigh-on-Sea, Essex

We offer different types of manual therapy in Southend at The Body Matters. Treatments are available from our clinic based in Leigh-on-Sea. We also offer telephone & online support and remote consultations. Call us on 01702 714968 for more information.

What is Manual Therapy?

Manual Therapy, also known as manual physical therapy or manipulative therapy, is a physical treatment used by trained therapists such as physiotherapists, osteopaths and massage therapists.

Manual therapy is the skilled application of any hands-on technique that applies pressure through soft tissue massage and/or passive movement to a joint, either within the affected joints' normal, pain-free range of movement (mobilisation) or pushing into a restricted range of movement (manipulation) to free up or release the stiffness. Manual Therapy in Southend-on-Sea is often used to treat musculoskeletal pain and disability.

Why Choose Manual Therapy?

Manual therapy in Southend-on-Sea restores and improves mobility to stiff joints and reduces muscle tension. This returns the patient to a more natural movement pattern without pain and increases the range of motion of the joints. Manual therapy also induces relaxation, reduces soft tissue swelling and inflammation and improves movement restriction. It is an ideal therapy to aid recovery from injuries, chronic pain and post-surgical rehabilitation.

Manual Therapy Techniques

Manual Therapy is a hands-on treatment, which includes kneading and manipulation of muscles, joint mobilization and joint manipulation. It may also include moving joints in specific directions and at different speeds to regain movement, muscle stretching, passive movements of the affected body part or having the patient move the body part against the therapist’s resistance to improve muscle activation and timing.

Manual therapy techniques are aimed at relaxing muscles that are tense and creating movement in restricted joints, decreasing pain and increasing flexibility. The techniques used in Manual Therapy include:

• Stretching
• Trigger Point techniques
• Joint Manipulation - The goal of joint manipulation is to restore maximal pain-free movement of the musculoskeletal system in postural balance.
• Joint Mobilisation - The goal of manipulation is to restore maximal pain-free movement of the musculoskeletal system in postural balance.
• Soft tissue work - including massage which may reduce inflammation and muscle tension.
• Myofascial Therapy (MFR) - targets muscle and fascial systems to promote flexibility and mobility of the body’s connective tissues. Eliminates pain and restores motion.
• Friction Massage - Used to increase circulation and release areas that are tight, particularly around joints and adhesions within muscles or tendons. Also known as Cross Friction Massage, or Transverse Friction Massage. Also performed at a site of an injury. The purpose is to breakdown scar tissue and remodels the tissue into a more flexible, pliable and functional, healthy soft tissue that functions normally.
• Therapeutic taping - Some techniques designed to enhance lymphatic fluid movement, for example, after a soft tissue injury to muscles or tendons, or overexertion from a repetitive strain injury, swelling may impede blood flow to an area which slows healing. Specific Taping and strapping methods may relieve pressure from swollen tissue to enhance circulation to the injured area.

Styles of Manual Therapy

Different styles of manual therapy include:

• Acupressure - Similar to Acupuncture, where physical pressure is applied to acupuncture points with the aim of clearing blockages in meridians in the body. Based on the concept that life energy flows through meridians in the body.
• Bowen Technique
• Cranio-sacral therapy (CST) - A form of bodywork that uses gentle touch to palpate the synarthrodial joints of the cranium.
• Spinal Manipulation
• Spinal Mobilisation - Described as "a gentle, often oscillatory, passive movement applied to a spinal region or segment so as gently to increase the passive range of motion of that segment or region.
• Manual Lymphatic Drainage - A type of massage based on the hypothesis that it will encourage the natural drainage of the lymph, which carries waste products away from the tissues back toward the heart.
• Medical Acupuncture
• Muscle Energy Techniques
• Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine
• Tui na - A Chinese manipulative therapy used in conjunction with acupuncture and moxibustion.

Make an enquiry View Prices