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Patient Testimonial 

"I don't know where I would be without the attention and commitment of the staff at OPT. My recovery has been long and drawn out and just when I thought I was finished, I would start back with another problem. I appreciate everyone's patience with me and the care given to me throughout these past few years of service."

~ OPTC Patient Anita Sackenheim

Oxford Physical Therapy Centers News

Greetings!
 

Manual Physical Therapy is a specialty branch of physical therapy. It is described as a specific hands-on technique used by physical therapists to diagnose and treat patients. The purpose of manual physical therapy is to decrease pain, increase range of motion, reduce or eliminate inflammation, improve relaxation, improve tissue repair, and promote healing, all of which can improve function.  

Some of the most common terms used in manual physical therapy are manipulation, mobilization, soft tissue massage, and myofascial release. The terms manipulation and mobilization are interchangeable. Defined by the Guide to Physical Therapy Practice, mobilization is "the skilled passive movement to a joint and/or related soft tissue at varying speeds and amplitudes including a small amplitude, high velocity therapeutic movement."

Mobilization has become a significant part of physical therapy and is rarely used alone. It is often used in conjunction with therapeutic exercise, patient instruction, and supportive modalities such as ice or heat. When someone presents to physical therapy with limited motion, the treatment of choice is mobilization to the joints involved, stretching of the muscles and connecting tissues, and other activities encouraging full movement. If someone presents to physical therapy with too much movement in a joint, generally mobilization could be used on tight neighboring joints and tissues that could be causing the involved joint to have too much motion.

In order for a physical therapist to utilize manual therapy, they need to have good palpation skills. Palpation skills are essentially the ability to see with the hands. A physical therapist needs to be able to recognize subtle changes in the structures and tissues involved. Since joints are surrounded by other soft tissue, massage techniques are considered part of manual therapy. Soft tissue can also be mobilized to improve flexibility, range of motion, and function. These techniques can be superficial or deep depending on the injury.

There are no absolute contraindications to manipulation, meaning that it is generally safe for most patients. However, a physical therapist may decide against it for certain patients.   Manual physical therapy can be used on nearly every joint in the body with research proving it to be effective in reducing pain, improving function, and aiding in healing.

Now that the New Year is here, there will be some New Year resolutions in which individuals may start to get into the gym atmosphere. This is great for their health and wellness as the goal tends to be to lose some weight and to get into better overall shape. For some individuals, this may be something new and for others it may be something that they have done in the past. For whatever category you fall into, please pay attention to these simple workout tips to help prevent the possibility of injury.

Warm-Up

A simple warm-up such as biking or walking for 10 minutes is a great way to prepare your body and muscles for the work out ahead. This increases blood flow and heat throughout the muscles to prepare for flexibility exercises.

Stretching

Flexibility is important for everyone getting into the gym. You want to focus on the larger muscles such as your hamstrings, quadriceps, calf muscles, and lower back muscles. To improve flexibility, each stretch should be done 4 times and held for 30 seconds.

• Hamstring: Standing with your heel on a box, lean your chest forward until stretch is felt on the back of your thigh (Picture A)
• Quadriceps: Pull your heel towards your buttocks (Picture B)
• Calf Muscles: Use of a slant board or off the edge of the step (Picture C)                   
• Lower Back: Use of a back system or prayer stretch(Picture D) 
                           

                 Picture A                                       Picture B

                Picture C                                         Picture D

Cardiovascular Activities

According to the surgeon general, it is recommended for all individuals to perform 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate activity throughout the week. This can be achieved a variety of ways, but an easy way to perform it is to do 30 minutes of cardiovascular activity 5 days a week. Activities to perform:

• Brisk walk at 3 mph
• Aerobics class
• Running
• Dancing
• Swimming
• Cycling

Walking is a great exercise to start with as it is easy to perform and does not require any equipment. Start with easy walking for about 10 minutes and build up gradually over time to 30 minutes of a brisk walk. When you start this workout endeavor, be sure to have the correct footwear. Anyone of our Oxford PT's can do an easy evaluation to recommend the correct pair of shoes that are needed for you.

Strength Training

Along with cardiovascular activities, resistive training can improve muscle strength and help prevent against injury. Along with this, resistive training can help control your weight, improve symptoms of depression and improve bone health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is recommended to perform this training between 2-3 times per week. To help prevent injury, use the following as a guide line:

• You cannot lift what you used to lift. Start with light weight and build from there. Choose a weight in which you have no pain and that causes struggle with the last few repetitions.
• Start with 3 sets of 10 repetitions and build to 3-4 sets of 12-15 repetitions; this focuses on strength as well as endurance.
• Perform a variety of exercises and focus on all muscle groups.