
Manual Therapy
Is a treatment approach that involves the application of movement-oriented strategies, integrating exercise and hands-on mobilization and manipulation techniques. It is guided by clinical reasoning, informing the therapist on the appropriate application, dosage, and progression of techniques. These techniques can be delivered passively or actively using specific and integrative treatment approaches, applying therapeutic movement and mechanical stimuli at varying speeds and amplitudes. Manual therapy produces a chain of mechanical and neurophysiological responses, including pain reduction, improved range of motion, modulation of inflammatory mediators, autonomic and neuromuscular responses, and endocrine responses, all of which are influenced by individual contextual factors.