Manual Therapy Specialist
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Advantage Physical Therapy
Physical Therapists serving Falls Church, Reston, Annandale, Arlington, VA, and the surrounding areas
At Advantage Physical Therapy, our skilled therapists use manual therapy—a hands-on approach—to relieve pain and improve mobility by manipulating muscles, soft tissues, and joints. Unlike general massage, manual therapy is a targeted treatment for issues like muscle spasms, joint stiffness, and limited range of motion. Combining gentle massage with precise movements at the joints, we help relax muscles, boost circulation, and restore joint function. This personalized care supports recovery and retrains your body’s movement, whether you’re dealing with back, shoulder, or knee pain. Our team proudly serves patients in Falls Church and Reston, VA, guiding them every step of the way.
Manual Therapy Q & A
What is manual therapy?
Manual therapy is a technique used in physical therapy where the therapist uses his or her hands, instead of a device or machine, to manipulate muscle, soft tissue, and joints to decrease pain due to muscle spasm, tension, or joint dysfunction. Manual therapy restores mobility to stiff joints and muscles and can be helpful in treating joints with a limited range of motion. Manual therapy techniques can be used all over the body including the spine, shoulders, legs, and neck. Manual therapy is divided into soft tissue work which includes massage to relax muscles, increase circulation, break up scar tissue, and ease pain. Mobilization is the other component which uses measured movements of varying speed and force to twist, pull, or push bones and joints into the correct position. These manipulations can loosen the tight muscles surrounding the joint, reducing the discomfort while returning the normal range of motion.
How can manual therapy help me?
Manual therapy can help with injuries or muscle spasms. This hands-on approach is what makes physical therapists different from other health practitioners. Therapists use hands-on tactics like stretching, massage, and strengthening to encourage and retrain the body to follow correct movement and mechanics. It is an essential part of physical therapy treatments. For example, if a patient has a back injury, the therapist may use manual massage techniques to relieve muscle tension or spasm to reduce pain. Then the therapist may guide the patient through back strengthening exercises with hands-on support and guidance.
How is manual therapy different from massage?
Manual therapy incorporates massage as part of a therapeutic treatment for a specific diagnosed condition and is delivered by a certified physical therapist. Manual therapy treats joints that are stiff and painful, including the spine, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle. The physical therapist will work with the patient to customize a program of treatment to aid recovery both in terms of relieving symptoms and also treating the root cause of the discomfort. Massage is the rhythmic application of pressure to the skin and soft tissue to reduce tension and improve circulation and relaxation.
Major Insurance Providers Accepted
At Advantage Physical Therapy, we accept most major medical insurance plans. Here is a short-list of just some of the most popular plans we accept. Please contact our office if you do not see your insurance provider listed below.
If you are looking to schedule an appointment with Women’s Health and Wellness, we only accept medical insurance through Tricare. To learn more about out-of-network rates, please contact the office.
Words from our patients
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"They took my insurance and it was easy to make an appointment. You will get better here!"
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"I had knee replacement surgery in Oct 2012. The physical therapist got me bending & walking in no time."
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"Advantage PT is heads and shoulders above all in terms of quality of treatment. There is kindness in the way that the therapists and staff members treat their patients."
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"All the staff I worked with were positive, helpful, and so professional. I had such a great experience during my shoulder therapy!"
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"The team at Advanced PT is amazing. Their dedication and understand was top notch and so was their attention to detail."
