Manual Physical Therapy

Manual therapy uses primarily hand-on active and passive intervention techniques, and includes mobilization and manipulation. Manual therapy is most effective when combined with therapeutic exercise and other rehabilitative activities.

Manual therapy intervention is used to decrease pain and improve range-of-motion and flexibility to stiff joints and muscles. Once pain has been reduced and joint mobility improved, it is much easier for a patient to regain optimal and efficient movement patterns and restore maximum function. Mobilization and manipulation are key components of manual therapy and consist of skilled, passive movements to joints and associated soft-tissue structures. Mobilization involves small amplitude, non-thrusting, oscillatory movements imparted to the patient by the therapist. Manipulation involves small amplitude movements imparted to the patient but also includes a thrust component. Other hands-on procedures such as massage, stretching, and deep pressure are components of manual therapy.

Who Will Benefit?

Individuals with a variety of disabilities and orthopaedic conditions that result in disorders of the moving parts of the body can benefit from manual physical therapy. In fact, there is high-quality research evidence supporting the use of manual physical therapy in the following conditions: acute and chronic low-back and neck pain, muscle-tension headaches, hip and knee osteoarthritis, and shoulder pain. In many cases, manual therapy combined with therapeutic exercise can produce rapid pain relief and improvement in function.

Where To Go?

Although manual physical therapy has been a component of physical therapist practice since the inception of the profession, some physical therapy practices may not frequently utilize it as part of services.

At Colorado Physical Therapy Specialists, we specialize in manual physical therapy. We have therapists who are not only board certified or board eligible as Orthopaedic Clinical Specialists by the American Physical Therapy Association but are also are Fellows in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy. In fact, Dr. Flynn is the current president of the AAOMPT and a leading researcher, speaker, and teacher in this field of practice.
 

After experiencing pain in my upper back/neck region, and with "electrical" pain and numbness shooting down my arms, I went to a plethora of doctors in town: an orthopedic doc specializing in the neck region, one specializing in the arm and wrist region, two neurologists, my general doc, and a host of others. I had four MRIs and several other tests. I was hoping for answers and a decrease in pain -- I was desperate. It wasn't until I saw Dr. Tim Flynn that my pain decreased dramatically, and over the course of several months, the pain nearly disappeared. I wish I'd started there! I can't thank him enough. Pain is a debilitating, miserable thing, and it had taken over my life. Now I'm back to work writing, now I’m playing with my children, and now I’m back to smiling.
-- Laura Pritchett, PhD, writer

I am very appreciative of the successful physical therapy I have received in the past year from Dr. Terry Gebhardt. On two separate occasions I have sought Terry’s help to work through some painful and worrisome issues. Both times Terry has proved to be professional, thorough and fully knowledgeable. His time and attention to both of my challenges were finalized quickly and satisfactorily, on one occasion allowing me to avoid surgery entirely. Terry came highly recommended to me and I now recommend him to you.  
-- Regina Cowles

Tim Flynn has been a super PT for me.  Over and over again he has helped me work through various injuries allowing me to get back to running and an active lifestyle. Tim promotes physical fitness and activity and his priority is to keep people moving. He is thorough and methodical in his assessment and treatment. He has taught me numerous stretching and strengthening exercises which have been invaluable to healing and prevention. I highly recommend Tim to any athlete. I highly recommend him to anyone who is in chronic physical pain.
-- Barbara Gotshall

As an avid tennis player and skier, my back takes a lot of pounding.  After years of living with frequent pain which caused periods where I couldn't participate in the activities I love, I knew that something needed to change.  My neurosurgeon recommended Dr. Gebhardt to me.  Through the use of hands-on therapy, Dr. Gebhardt greatly improved the flexibility in my back, and the individualized home exercise program that he developed for me helps me continue to build strength and maintain flexibility day to day.  Thanks to Dr. Gebhardt I no longer worry about the health of my back or the 'pain in my neck;'  I have a new-found physical confidence in the way I approach my daily activities as well as my sports.
-- Mary Lou

I injured my right shoulder at work. Over the next two months, instead of improving, the pain slowly increased until I decided to call a sports doctor. They said I'd probably need X-rays, then likely an MRI. A week before my appointment, a friend suggested I first see a physical therapist and recommended Sheri Quesnel.

After talking to her on the phone, I decided to postpone the doctor's appointment and set up an appointment with Sheri. I'm incredibly glad I did. After the first session - a combination of diagnosis, direct therapy, and education - the pain was significantly reduced. By the end of the second session, a week later, I knew I was on the fast track to recovery.

Now, a month later, most of the pain is gone; my range of motion is nearly back to normal; and I understand my shoulder much better. Very empowering, very sastisfied.

-- Dan Bihn

I had about given up all hope of any relief from arthritis in my hips.  As a last measure, I took my orthopedic surgeon’s recommendation to try physical therapy.  Dr. Terry Gebhardt was very attentive to the symptoms, and developed a regimen of treatment which immediately provided relief.  I was really amazed!  I am now able to ski, hike and bike in comfort which I thought I would never regain without hip surgery.

-- David Durst

After suffering with bladder control issues for many years and working with another practitioner in the uro-gynecologic field, with minimal success, I was referred to Laurie Byrne.  Her help has been an indispensable part of my journey back to normalcy. Laurie’s knowledge and expertise with uro-gyn issues along with her extensive physical therapy training are an unbeatable combination and are unmatched in this region.  Besides being extraordinarily competent, her delightful personality and manner make treating this embarrassing problem much easier.

With Laurie’s help, I was able to progress from nearly complete incontinence to having a fair degree of control while deciding if I would need surgery.    Now that my surgery is over, she is training me to prevent the dreaded and all too common recurrence.  Had I known 20 years ago what I have learned from her, I could have avoided the progressively severe lifestyle limitations and eventual surgical intervention I experienced.

-- grateful patient, Ft. Collins

What Our Patients Tell Us
210 W. Magnolia, Suite 110,  Fort Collins, CO 80521 970-221-1201 Fax 800-675-0273

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