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Effective Manual Therapy Techniques for Pain Relief in Lancaster

    Understanding Manual Therapy and Its Benefits

    The benefits of manual therapy are vast. Manual therapy is a type of therapy that involves hands-on techniques, which are used to  treat chronic orthopedic pain issues. Manual therapy aims to restore optimal movement and function to the body or a pain free lifestyle.

    Two women in a tranquil therapy room with bright turquoise walls. One woman, wearing a floral embroidered white dress and with visible tattoos, is seated and focused on writing in a clipboard. The other woman, also with visible tattoos and wearing a black tank top, is positioning herself on a therapy table, seemingly preparing for a session. The room is decorated with various small items on wall shelves, including salt lamps and a small lampshade.

    What is Manual Therapy?

    Manual therapy  is a hands on therapy that involves myofascial techniques, manipulation, and varying forms of pressure. These are used to treat issues like frozen shoulder, TOS, and more.  It’s great at improving range of motion. 

    Manual therapy has been around for a long time. It’s a non-invasive and drug-free approach to orthopedic issues and chronic pain. Manual therapy is based on the concept that the body has the ability to heal itself, and manual therapy techniques are used to facilitate this healing process. Sometimes you just need a little push!

    Supported Movement

    There are various types of manual therapy techniques, including:

     This technique involves the passive movement of a joint through its range of motion. This helps us see where the joint is at and how we can help.  This technique can help to reduce pain, increase joint mobility, and improve joint function.

    This technique involves the use of pressure and movement to manipulate the soft tissues of the body, including muscles, tendons, and ligaments. This technique can help to reduce pain, increase flexibility, and improve circulation.

    This technique involves the use of movement and pressure to stretch the muscles and other soft tissues of the body. This technique can help to improve flexibility, reduce pain, and improve range of motion. It also common to ask the client to actively move a muscle while pressure is being applied to the same muscle.

    This technique involves the use of pressure to release tension in the fascia, which is the connective tissue that surrounds muscles and other organs. This technique can help to reduce pain, improve mobility, and improve overall function.

    This technique involves the use of quick, forceful movements to manipulate the joints of the body. This technique can help to reduce pain, increase joint mobility, and improve joint function.

    This techniques involve the use of pressure on specific points of the body to stimulate the Goli Tendon Organ and improve overall function.

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    The Power of a Combined Approach

    Massage and Physical Therapy

    Many clients find that combining orthopedic massage with physical therapy leads to faster and more effective results than relying on PT alone. Here’s how these two therapies complement each other:

    1. Prepping the Body for PT

    Massage before a physical therapy session helps to loosen stiff muscles, increase blood flow, and improve range of motion, making it easier to perform therapeutic exercises.

    2. Enhancing Muscle Recovery and Reducing Pain

    After PT sessions, orthopedic massage can reduce post-exercise soreness, break up adhesions, and encourage muscle relaxation, allowing the body to heal more efficiently. You will have two sets of eyes and decades of expertise working together to get you results. 

    3. Improving Flexibility and Joint Mobility

    Many injuries and chronic pain conditions are linked to restricted movement. By incorporating targeted manual therapy techniques, orthopedic massage helps to restore proper movement patterns that reinforce PT progress. Your muscles hold memory and we need to retrain how they work. 

    4. Managing Chronic Pain and Preventing Re-Injury

    Clients recovering from sports injuries, surgeries, or conditions like frozen shoulder, plantar fasciitis, and sciatica benefit from the pain management effects of massage. Regular sessions help maintain tissue health, reduce re-injury risks, and support long-term wellness.

    Close-up of a therapeutic session in a tranquil therapy room. A therapist with long, dark hair and visible tattoos is gently holding the wrist of a client who is lying down and covered with a brown fabric and a gray blanket. The client, visible from the chest up, appears relaxed with her eyes closed. The room has a serene turquoise wall in the background, enhancing the calm atmosphere of the session.
    A skilled orthopedic massage therapist at Tranquil Therapy Wellness providing manual therapy to a tattooed client in a calming treatment space. The therapist uses a hands-on technique to improve mobility and reduce pain, complementing the client's physical therapy program for optimal recovery.

    Who Benefits from Orthopedic Massage & PT?

    If you’re undergoing physical therapy for an injury, surgery recovery, or chronic pain, adding orthopedic massage to your treatment plan can be a game-changer. This approach is particularly beneficial for individuals dealing with:

    • Post-surgical rehabilitation (knee, hip, shoulder replacements, etc.)

    • Athletic injuries and overuse conditions

    • Neck, back, hip, and shoulder pain

    • Chronic conditions like arthritis, lyme disease, and fibromyalgia

    • Work-related or repetitive strain injuries

    Why Should You Consider Manual Therapy?

    Considering manual therapy should always be one of your first options. It has minimal side effects if done by an experienced therapist and costs less on average than other options. Including deductibles and other health insurance costs.  

    There are a lot of different variations in manual therapy so you can choose what is right for you. At Tranquil Therapy, we believe manual therapy should never hurt. Although something hurting and something being uncomfortable can get mixed up you should be able to tell your therapist to stop. A skilled therapist will be able to help you without causing pain that brings you to a protective state. 

    Have an HSA or FSA account?

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    We are now accepting HSA / FSA accounts with a letter of medical necessity!

    To do this talk to your doctor about obtaining a letter of medical necessity, talk to your insurance provider about it and see what they would need from me. From there I will make sure to work with you to get everything needed. All I need from you is the letter of medical necessity on file. 

    If you have pain, are willing to travel to Lancaster City, and want results please reach out to see how we can help. Take a look at our testimonials page to see what clients are saying.You can schedule on our scheduling page  or send us an email if you have questions to  TranquilTherapyMassage@gmail.com

    View our other blog posts on pain management

    I went to Ashley out of desperation after over a month of hip pain. I had done all the things recommended such as PT, therapeutic massage, ice, heat, stretching, Aleve, etc without relief. I was waking up from sleep and tweaking my position all day trying to get comfortable. The treatment with Ashley was unlike any I have experienced before. I didn't have to say anything other than my complaint and she hit on all the spots. After a single session with Ashley I am thrilled to report that the pain is down to 10% and I expect that to get better as the sensitivity calms. I feel like my PT exercises will be more helpful now that she has released the tissues in the area. I greatly appreciated that her recommendations for follow up were monthly and then every 4 months and she wasn't trying to over-prescribe her treatments.She is knowledgeable, skilled, and caring. I am incredibly grateful and will be returning and recommending her care to many others.
    Kristen N
    Kristen NDoctor of Osteopathic Medicine
    Ashley is absolutely amazing. I suffer from chronic pain due to to RA & fibromyalgia and getting regular massages at Tranquil Therapy has been a game changer. Ashley is super skilled and manages to hit all the right spots, she also recommends strengthening exercises and stretches I can do at home to target problem areas. She keeps detailed notes on my issues and treatment so she can keep up with my progress from visit to visit. She offers different scented aromatherapy massage oils and lets me pick my favorite for each session, and she offers add ons like cupping at no charge. I’ve been seeing Ashley for almost a year and I’ve noticed massive positive changes in my pain levels since becoming a client. Highly recommend!
    Dana Kauffman
    Dana KauffmanHR Operations - Bullhorn Coordinator
    I've been going to Tranquil Therapy and seeing Ashley since 2017 for various body pains caused by long hours in front of the computer (neck, shoulders, pelvis, hip pains). I remember in one of my first ever massage sessions she was able to readjust my rounded shoulder--something I didn't realize was even possible without long chiropractic treatment. Needless to say I kept coming back whenever I could afford it. Ashley seems to have an intuitive grasp of what kind of treatment I needed, but she also carefully listened to what I have to say, and refereed back to my past treatment notes in other to make sure she was providing the most appropriate services. I highly recommend Tranquil Therapy if you're looking for someone trustworthy to work with you in managing chronic pain or just to unwind every now and then. Tranquil Therapy is also LGTBQIA+ friendly place, and Ashley speak Spanish.
    Giang Nguyen
    Giang NguyenAccountant