How does a manual therapist differ from a physical therapist?
Treatment from a traditional physical therapist consists of exercises and stretches, with minimal to no hands-on therapy. A manual therapist is a physical therapist who has undergone residency training in manual therapy, much as a physician would go through a residency to become a specialist.
This training focuses on utilizing a hands-on approach in order to identify joint and muscle dysfunctions. This allows for a more specific treatment through soft tissue mobilization, joint articulation or manipulation, and scientific therapeutic exercise progressions. These skills are in addition to the tools that a physical therapist possesses.