Injuries happen when on the job. Unfortunately it is a fact of life in most industries. The key to success in the treatment of injuries with worker’s compensation is having a well-rounded program that helps your employees heal and get back to their job and lives. Physical therapists are a key to helping injured workers and a tool that they use regularly is manual therapy.

What is Manual Therapy?

Manual therapy involves skilled, hands-on techniques that therapists use to manipulate muscles and joints, aiming to alleviate pain, enhance mobility, and promote healing. Often confused with massage therapy, manual therapy is a structured approach that can utilize a variety of techniques, including massage, to help decrease pain and improve function. However, manual therapy is just part of the equation when recovering from an injury.

Benefits of Incorporating Manual Therapy in Workers’ Compensation Treatment

Manual therapy techniques provide a host of benefits for injured workers. By directly addressing pain through hands-on manipulation, these techniques provide a non-invasive approach to pain management. They also play a key role in restoring range of motion and flexibility, boosting the body’s natural healing processes. Manual therapy often helps alleviate pain and tension to allow an injured worker to better perform active activities and exercises to progress in their recovery.

Types of Manual Therapy Techniques

There are many techniques that fall into the manual therapy category. Each technique has its own purpose during treatment and may not be appropriate for everyone. Talk with your physical therapist for the best techniques (if any) during your treatment.

• Massage Therapy: Massage therapy encompasses various techniques like effleurage and petrissage, which not only help in reducing muscle tension but also facilitate relaxation, contributing to overall pain relief.
• Joint Mobilization and Manipulation: Joint mobilization and manipulation focus on enhancing joint mobility and reducing pain through controlled movements, catering to injured workers seeking functional restoration.
• Soft Tissue Mobilization: Utilizing methods such as myofascial release and trigger point therapy, soft tissue mobilization targets specific areas of discomfort, promoting tissue healing and releasing tension.
• Stretching and Strengthening Exercises: By integrating manual techniques into stretching and strengthening routines, therapists guide injured workers to achieve optimal muscle flexibility and strength, fostering a quicker recovery.

Who is Appropriate for Manual Therapy during Physical Therapy?

Most patients are appropriate for some type of manual therapy. The type and application of manual therapy should be determined by your physical therapist and continually re-assessed to determine appropriateness. You physical therapist will review your injury and treatment options with you following your initial evaluation and throughout your treatment, including manual therapy options.

Conclusion

In the world of workers’ compensation, where injuries can throw life off track, the integration of manual therapy techniques with physical therapy isn’t just a treatment option – it can be a game-changer. It’s like combining the best of both worlds, where science meets the healing power of touch, and it’s all aimed at getting injured workers back on their feet with a renewed spirit.

Whether it’s a minor injury or a more complex situation, the fusion of manual therapy and physical therapy offers a holistic support system. The experts at WorkSafe Physical therapy are able to design personalized treatment plans that understand your unique needs and challenges.

Contact WorkSafe to find out how we can help your company today!

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