Manual Therapy
Manual therapy is the foundation of care at Osteopractic Physical Therapy of the Carolinas. It refers to skilled, hands-on techniques used to restore joint motion, reduce muscle tightness, and improve how the body moves — not just how it feels.
At OPTC, manual therapy is not a single technique or protocol. It is a clinical approach, guided by movement assessment and delivered one-on-one by a Doctor of Physical Therapy. This allows treatment to be individualized, intentional, and effective across a wide range of conditions.
What Is Manual Therapy?
Manual therapy includes a variety of hands-on techniques used to assess and treat movement restrictions involving joints, muscles, and connective tissue.
The purpose of manual therapy is to:
Restore normal joint motion
Reduce excessive muscle tone
Improve tissue mobility
Improve movement efficiency
Reduce pain driven by mechanical restriction
Manual therapy does not replace movement or exercise — it supports it by restoring the body’s ability to move well.
What Manual Therapy Is Not
At OPTC, manual therapy is:
Not passive, protocol-based care
Not generic massage
Not applied the same way to every patient
Instead, it is used intentionally to address specific restrictions identified during evaluation.
Manual Therapy Techniques Used at OPTC
Depending on your needs, manual therapy at OPTC may include:
Joint mobilization
Soft tissue mobilization
Instrument-assisted soft tissue techniques (IASTM)
Targeted hands-on mobility work
These techniques are selected based on what is limiting your movement, not based on routine or preference.
How Manual Therapy Fits Into Treatment at OPTC
Manual therapy is rarely used in isolation. It is often combined with:
Movement assessment
Corrective movement or exercise
Education on self-management
Activity modification when needed
This integrated approach helps ensure that improvements last beyond the treatment table.
Who Benefits From Manual Therapy?
In short, almost everyone! You will benefit from adding manual therapy to a healthy lifestyle and strengthening program. Too many clinics use only exercise in the absence of skilled manual therapy. The research is conclusive, trying to simply exercise away all of your aches, pains and injures is not well supported. Adding a manual therapy approach to help reduce pain and improve joint and tissue mobility and allow you to get to a strength program will improve outcomes.
Is Manual Therapy Safe?
Yes. Manual therapy is safe when performed by a trained Doctor of Physical Therapy and guided by proper evaluation and clinical reasoning.
At OPTC:
Each patient is thoroughly assessed
Techniques are modified based on comfort and presentation
Treatment decisions prioritize safety and long-term outcomes
Not Sure Which Manual Therapy Approach Is Right for You?
You don’t need to know which technique you need — that’s our job.
