Techniques We Use in Manual Therapy

Manual therapy involves skilled, hands-on techniques designed to improve joint mobility, reduce soft tissue restrictions, and relieve pain associated with orthopaedic and neurological conditions. Each technique is selected based on clinical findings, with the goal of optimising biomechanical function, reducing compensatory strain, and facilitating more efficient movement patterns.

Common manual therapy techniques include:

• Soft tissue mobilisation to manipulate superficial and deep muscular layers, reduce myofascial tension, and restore normal tissue pliability

• Myofascial release techniques to address fascial densification and restrictions that limit range and contribute to compensatory movement

• Therapeutic massage to promote local circulation, modulate the autonomic nervous system, and reduce hypertonicity in overused or compensatory muscle groups

• Joint mobilisation (grade-based) to improve passive joint range, reduce stiffness, and enhance synovial fluid distribution

• Passive static and dynamic stretching to maintain or restore muscle extensibility and prevent contracture formation in neurologically compromised or post-operative patients

• Assisted and facilitated range of motion (AROM/PROM) to maintain joint health, support proprioceptive input, and aid in neuromuscular re-education where voluntary movement is impaired

All techniques are applied with consideration of the dog’s comfort, tolerance, and underlying pathology. Manual therapy is often integrated with other modalities such as therapeutic exercise or photobiomodulation to achieve comprehensive functional outcomes.