The essence of manual therapy
Manual therapy is an alternative way of treating musculoskeletal disorders. A doctor with these skills can correct pathological disorders, including degeneration of cartilage tissue against the background of impaired blood supply.The essence of manual therapy is its gentle tactile effect on tissues, blood vessels, biologically active points and nerve endings.
This triggers spontaneous recovery processes with the activation of hidden reserves of the body.Treatment with manual therapy is widely practiced in different countries. Positive results are confirmed by radiographic and tomographic images. Patients feel a significant improvement in their condition (no pain syndrome) after several sessions.
Meanwhile, patients have a huge number of questions related to the use of manual therapy. Interested in the possibilities of using these methods and techniques. It is also important to understand how to find a suitable specialist and what documents can prove his or her qualifications.
In the course of this type of treatment, a spinal column blockade is first bought, which is associated with inflammatory neuromuscular tension. Later on, by relaxing certain muscle groups, the effect of strengthening capillary blood supply is achieved.
Stimulation of other muscle groups of the back skeleton allows to fix the restored configuration of the spine and strengthen the diffuse nutrition of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral disk. This is the basic principle behind the successful restoration of the spinal column integrity.
Who’s a chiropractor?
Only a graduate of a specialized higher education institution (medical school, university or academy) can work as a doctor in chiropractic. Accordingly, the first document to be held by a doctor is a diploma of higher professional education. Without this document, a person is not entitled to engage in relevant professional activities.
A manual therapist cannot take place without a professional training course. Special training is needed to master methods, techniques and techniques of manual intervention on the human body. Therefore, it is necessary to be interested in the availability of a certificate confirming the completion of such courses.
The next point is experience and professionalism. They are interrelated. There is no high level of professionalism without sufficient practical experience. The doctor can confirm the work experience only by means of various licences, allowing documents. The earlier the date of issue is specified in them, the greater the potential practical experience of the doctor.
By specialization, a manual therapist may be an orthopaedist, neurologist, neurologist, surgeon or even therapist. Basic education is crucial. The deeper the specialist studies the musculoskeletal apparatus and nervous system within the educational institution, the better the chances of successful application of the acquired knowledge in the future profession.
This specialist helps with many pathological processes in the human body. The main impact is on muscle structures. For example, if muscles exert pressure on the walls of blood vessels, it is possible to relieve the patient of the concomitant symptoms with the help of manual influence. Similarly, help is provided for pain syndrome associated with compression (pressure) of muscle tissue on the nerve endings.
In addition, it is possible to treat any type of curvature of the spine, displacement of the bodies of the vertebrae, destruction of intervertebral disks. During the course of manual action, the diffuse nutrition of cartilage tissue is restored, biomechanics is improved, ligaments and muscles are strengthened. Complete restoration of the cartilage disc is possible, even with large herniated nuclei.
History of the formation and development of manual therapy
The development of this technique takes quite a long period of time. The history of manual therapy has its roots in ancient China. Although chiropractic techniques were mentioned in ancient manuscripts related to the civilization of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia before that. At present, some areas of India are active centers of continuous development of this field of medicine.
Traditionally, it is believed that in ancient times the skills of manual influence were possessed by hunters who were forced to provide themselves with first aid in case of bruises, dislocations, sprains and some other traumas. Gradual collection of the methodological base included various techniques and practices.
They were transmitted in separate genera, enriched with knowledge of medicine and anatomy, physiology and pathogenesis. Manual therapy developed in parallel with the official direction, which gave more and more new knowledge in the field of human body structure.
The first specialists in this field had the title of bone martyrs. Hippocrates wrote about them in his treatises, calling the used methods of radiotherapy. He describes methods of spinal column traction with the help of simple devices, separate methods of massage and osteopathy.
The worldwide spread of techniques began at the end of the nineteenth century. And manual therapy was divided into two separate areas: osteopathy and chiropractic. Their methods differed slightly, but in general specialists used general methods of human body treatment. All practices were strictly tied to the achievements of official medicine.
Meanwhile, the methodical basis was created and in the middle of the last century manual therapy became a part of possible prescribed methods of treatment of musculoskeletal apparatus. Moreover, some methods and techniques were borrowed by official medicine. Physiotherapy, massage, and physical therapy are all heritage of manual therapy.