Manual Therapy Techniques (Meritt - Online)

Course overview

Research studies frequently point to the benefits of treatment interventions that consist of both therapeutic exercise and manual therapy together. Furthermore, manual therapy has been shown to provide a variety of benefits other than the traditionally understood biomechanical effects, though these potential benefits are not often taken into consideration clinically. Unfortunately, in many rehabilitation settings one-on-one time with the patient to provide manual therapy is limited. To give patients, the best and most effective care, clinicians must be able to perform efficient assessments and manual interventions that don't require a full session to implement. These manual techniques ultimately need to be reinforced with patient-driven exercises and self-care techniques that foster optimal long-term outcomes. This lab-intensive workshop will focus on finding the appropriate combination of manual therapy and therapeutic exercise. Participants will learn simple, yet effective manual techniques, primarily focusing on joint mobilizations and manipulations of the spine and extremities. These techniques will be taught with an improved understanding of more of the potential benefits that occur when providing hands-on care. Participants will also learn how to integrate appropriate exercises that will help to reinforce the manual techniques by helping to reduce pain and optimize mobility and ADL/functional improvement in every patient. The end-result is a clinician who is prepared to offer their patients improved treatment outcomes while maintaining the productivity standards in many of today's rehabilitation settings.