| MANUAL THERAPY |
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| Written by Administrator |
| Tuesday, 29 July 2008 17:06 |
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Manual Therapy. What is it? Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapy (OMT) is a special part of Physiotherapy of rehabilitation of neuro – musculo – skeletal dysfunctions, that takes into consideration the clinical symptoms of the patient and uses specialized technical approaches, that include manipulation and therapeutic exercises. Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapy (OMT) comprises all scientific advances, clinical proof and the bio – psychosocial background for every patient individually. Voted in at General Meeting in Cape Town, March 2004. History of Manual Therapy The father ofManual Therapy in Europe is considered to be Hippocrates, who in many of his speeches emphasized on how thorough knowledge concerning the spinal cord is of great importance because so many disorders embark upon it. Galinos, also noted that nerves go through the spinal cord and if this area is injured, so are they. The first educational school for manual therapists (MT) was founded in 1897 from Andrew Still (surgeon in the American civil war, who worked later on as an osteopathic), who established a school of osteopathy. At first, in Europe Manual Therapy was confronted with negative and suspicious attitudes by the medical community. However, the discovery of the mechanic role that a ruptured disc plays in creating several neurogenous syndromes introduced to doctors techniques such as traction or other methods of mechanic therapy that include manipulations. At that time occurred something of a paradox with some doctors trying to execute these manipulations even under full anaesthesia. JA. Mendell, an osteopathic who used to train physiotherapists, was a main figure in relation to medical manipulations. One of his student was Cyriax, whose “Textbook of Orthopaedic Medicine” (1978) is considered still one of the classic textbooks in clinical evaluation of mobile functions. Cyriax invented a series of techniques, whose safety was based on a good evaluation and the control of factors that can result in the best outcome. Cyriax along with Kaltenborn and Maitland are considered to be the 3 pioneers in the field of Manual Therapy. Kaltenborn applied techniques based on arthrokinematics principles (convex – concave) and still noted that a good evaluation is the basis of a good therapy (trial treatment). Maitland applied techniques based on the location of the pain and the response of the arthrosis to movement regulation. Generally, Manual Therapy (MT) is applied by trained therapists and is designed in a way that it is safe and effective. It is worth mentioning some more names in the evolution of Manual Therapy (MT) such as Paris, Stoddard, Lewit, Rocabardo, Mulligan. During the 90’s Mark Jones in relation to clinical reflection and David Butler by mobilization of nerve tissue, broadened the way of thinking in Manual Therapy. |
| Last Updated on Saturday, 02 August 2008 10:05 |