Treatment by each Empower U Physical Therapist is individualized and specific to every single one of our clients. We pride ourselves that your Empower U treatment is above and beyond any other experience. So what does this look like? Well, as the previous blog post mentioned, dry needling is a very effective treatment we utilize for our clients. However, we typically can’t rely on dry needling to get our clients to their goals. As professionals in movement medicine – we physical therapists also incorporate manual therapy (hands-on techniques) and therapeutic exercises. Manual therapy includes hands-on techniques such as joint manipulation and soft tissue mobilization. Therapeutic exercise includes muscle/joint stretches and stabilization/strengthening exercises for the extremities and the spine.
There is substantial evidence and research for these two interventions to improve pain and dysfunction. However, their effectiveness depends on how we, as physical therapists, individualize them into each of our client’s care. The proportion and specificity of each of these interventions will differ on aspects of care such as acuity of injury or pain, mobility restrictions, and/or musculoskeletal weakness. The links for this blog post are to research demonstrating the effectiveness of manual therapy and therapeutic exercise for spine health. One shows evidence of utilizing both manual therapy and cervical stabilization exercises to help with outcomes of chronic neck pain. The other research article refers to optimizing care for individuals with low back pain based on specific clinical presentation. The clinical presentation findings lead to what should be emphasized (manipulation/mobilization, stabilization, specific exercise, traction) in a client’s care plan in conjunction with other interventions.
Examples of what this would look like in our care include an individual with isolated low back pain who presents with the tightness of the spine. Their care would then emphasize dry needling to the low back muscles, manipulation/mobilization to improve spinal mobility, and specific low back and hip stretch to improve dysfunction further. Another example of extremity pain is of someone who has knee pain, and testing demonstrates a significant reduction in knee and hip strength. These individuals’ care will highly emphasize more quadriceps and glute strengthening therapeutic exercises in conjunction with dry needling and manual therapy as needed for the knee joint and thigh.
The bottom line and expectations with Empower U are that you will not get cookie-cutter treatment! We will utilize dry needling, manual therapy, and therapeutic exercise based on your specific needs. The mixture of these interventions will evolve as you progress through care to make your goals and optimize your health!
Subgrouping Clients With Low Back Pain: Evolution of a Classification Approach to Physical Therapy, Julie M. Fritz, Joshua A. Cleland, John D. Childs
Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy
Volume 37, Issue 601 Jun 2007Pages 290-302, 769
A Comparison of the Effects
of Stabilization Exercises
Plus Manual Therapy to Those of Stabilization Exercises Alone in Clients With Nonspecific Mechanical Neck Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Journal of Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy
Published Online January 31, 2016Volume46Issue2Pages44-55
https://www.jospt.org/doi/10.2519/jospt.2016.5979
