Therapeutic Manipulation - What Exactly Does It Mean?
By Anne Wolski, Thu Dec 8th

Copyright 2005 Anne Wolski

Therapeutic manipulation refers to any technique by which adisease or disorder is treated using the remedial use of thehands, especially by a skilled practitioner. Some of thesetechniques include:

Acupuncture Massage Physiotherapy Chiropractics Myopractics

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is one of the oldest, most commonly used medicalprocedures in the world. Originating in China more than 2,000years ago, acupuncture began to become better known in theUnited States in 1971, when New York Times reporter James Restonwrote about how doctors in China used needles to ease his painafter surgery. The term acupuncture describes a family ofprocedures involving stimulation of anatomical points on thebody by a variety of techniques. American practices ofacupuncture incorporate medical traditions from China, Japan,Korea, and other countries. The acupuncture technique that hasbeen most studied scientifically involves penetrating the skinwith thin, solid, metallic needles that are manipulated by thehands or by electrical stimulation.

Massage Massage is now one of the most popular forms ofalternative therapy, whether it's for stress relief, musculartherapy or even emotional healing. But with so many differenttypes of massage available, it can be hard to know what's rightfor you? The most basic form of massage is Swedish. The gentlesoothing stimulation of the soft tissue and muscles is awonderful means of calming nerves and improving overallcirculation.

Physiotherapy Physiotherapy is a science-based healthcareprofession which views movement as central to health and wellbeing. Core skills used by physiotherapists include manualtherapy, therapeutic exercise and the application ofelectrophysical modalities. Physiotherapists believe it is ofcrucial importance to take note of psychological, cultural andsocial factors which influence their clients. They try and

bringthe patients into an active role to help make the best ofindependence and function.

Chiropractics Chiropractics is based on the scientific fact thatyour body is a self-regulating, self-healing organism. Theseimportant functions are controlled by the brain, spinal cord,and all the nerves of the body. The skull protects the delicatetissues of the brain. The moving bones of the spine protect thevulnerable communication pathways of the spinal cord and nerveroots. If the nervous system is impaired, it can causemalfunction of the tissue and organs throughout the body.Chiropractic is the science of locating offending spinalstructures, the art of reducing their impact to the nervoussystem, and a philosophy of natural health care based on yourinborn potential to be healthy.

Myopractics As an advanced form of bodywork, Myopracticintegrates together the soft tissues and skeleton to achievedeep relaxation and relieve chronic pain. Based on the samesystem of training as that in the Bowen Technique, Myopracticemploys postural assessment as a guide to its treatment plan forclients aiming to restore the body's structural integrity backtowards its ideal state. Myopractic shows that where there is abone or joint misalignment, then there is a muscle that isresponsible. Once the muscle disorder is corrected, the skeletonwill respond correcting the misalignment.

Effective pain management is an increasingly diverse field andmanipulative therapies are only one field to consider. Painmanagement is a matter of personal choice and a case of findingwhat works well for your individual needs. Effective managementof pain can often make the difference between living a lifegoverned by debilitating pain and leading a relatively normallife.

About the author:Anne Wolski has worked within the health and welfare industryfor more than 30 years. Go tohttp://www.magnetic-health-online.com to see many wonderfulhealth articles, many of them written by doctors and others whohave been involved in the health industry for many years.