Manual Therapy

Manual therapy is a family of skilled hands-on techniques that mobilise joints, muscles, nerves and fascia. The goal is to restore the movement and ease the protective guarding that pain creates.

At PhysioActive, manual therapy includes nerve mobilisation, various joint mobilisations, muscle mobilisation and fascia mobilisation — selected based on the assessment, not a fixed routine.

• Stiff joints in the neck, mid-back, shoulder, hip and knee
• Nerve-related pain such as sciatic, ulnar or median nerve irritation
• Muscle tightness that does not respond to stretching alone
• Restricted fascia after surgery, injury or prolonged immobilisation
• Headaches with a cervical (neck-related) component
• Frozen shoulder and other capsular restrictions

1. Specific AssessmentWe localise the joint, segment or tissue limiting your movement.
2. Technique SelectionGlides, oscillations, sustained holds, neural slides or fascial release — chosen for the finding.
3. Graded ApplicationForce and amplitude are graded to your tolerance and tissue irritability.
4. Movement ReinforcementEvery manual technique is followed by an active movement so the gain holds.
5. Self-ManagementYou leave with a self-mobilisation or release you can do at home.

Techniques range from gentle oscillations to firmer sustained pressure. Mild post-treatment soreness for 24 hours is normal; sharp or worsening pain is not — we adjust accordingly.

Typically 4–8 sessions, integrated with exercise. Manual therapy is most effective when paired with active loading.

Acute fractures, severe osteoporosis at the segment of interest, vascular conditions of the neck (we screen), and active infection. Your physiotherapist will assess suitability.

• Multiple techniques available — we are not a single-method clinic
• Every hands-on technique is paired with active movement
• We do not provide manual therapy as a stand-alone, indefinite treatment