Manual (or hands-on) therapy may involve your physical therapist utilizing techniques including spinal manipulation, joint mobilization, muscle energy, or soft tissue massage to address your musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction. These techniques are used to restore normal joint mobility, improve muscle extensibility and most importantly, to reduce pain and restore function. Recent pain science research demonstrates that the mechanism of some manual therapy techniques involves a complex neurophysiological response that modulates pain and improves function. Our physical therapists are trained to identify candidates for manual therapy interventions that have been proven to be the most effective for your particular condition. A large and continually growing body of scientific research supports the efficacy of manual therapy in the treatment of lower back pain, arthritis, stenosis, neck pain, headaches, shoulder pain, ankle sprains, and tennis elbow. We at Waldron's Peak Physical Therapy, believe that manual therapy techniques are most effective when combined with individualized therapeutic exercise programs and education to enhance the benefits of the hands-on treatment you receive. Our patients consistently report that this multifaceted approach to treatment ultimately results in the independent management of their conditions.