Soft Tissue Mobilization Techniques
Soft tissue mobilization techniques applied by a physical therapist can assist with various common tissue injuries.
Athletes and relatively active people can get a soft tissue injury from several activities such as weight training and regular aerobic exercise and trauma or injury.
Our trained orthopedic and sports physical therapists at Paspa Physical Therapy, located in Manhattan, NY, can assess your injuries and offer assisted soft tissue mobilization.
Soft tissue mobilization techniques applied by a physical therapist can assist with various common tissue injuries.
Athletes and relatively active people can get a soft tissue injury from several activities such as weight training and regular aerobic exercise and trauma or injury.
Our trained orthopedic and sports physical therapists at Paspa Physical Therapy, located in Manhattan, NY, can assess your injuries and offer assisted soft tissue mobilization.
What is soft tissue mobilization?
Soft tissue mobilization is a type of manual physical therapy that includes hands-on treatment performed by a qualified physical therapist on your ligaments, fascia, and muscles.
The different tissue types can include connective fibrous tissue, lymph vessels, nerves, and more.
Types of injuries that need mobilization:
- Sprains: Sprains occur when there is a tearing or stretching of the ligaments. These fibrous connective tissues connect different bones in your body. Sudden active movements can at times cause sprains in your wrists, feet, ankles, and knees.
- Strains: Strains are partial or complete tears that occur in the muscles or tendons. These injuries are common sports-related injuries that can have painful results such as cramping, swelling, spasms, and more.
- Contusions: Contusions usually occur when there is a sudden hard impact on an area of the body, resulting in bruising. A contusion or bruise can impact the tendon or muscle.
- Repetitive Motion: Different repetitive motions can cause tissue damage. Daily repetitive activities such as walking, typing, heavy lifting, and other tasks can result in injury over time.
Types of soft tissue mobilizations
There are a variety of specific techniques that are used in soft tissue mobilization.
Some of these commonly used techniques are listed below.
- Friction massage: This is done by pushing across the grain of the ligaments, tendons, and muscles.
- Direction oscillations: This involves rhythmic pushing on the restricted tissue.
- Sustained pressure: This is done by pushing directly on the restricted tissue and holding.
- Perpendicular strumming: This involves rhythmic pushing along the muscle border, followed by the rubbing of the top muscle.
- Unlocking spiral: This is done by pushing on the restricted tissue in alternating clockwise and counterclockwise rotating motions.
- Parallel mobilization: This is done by pushing along the seams of muscles.
- Perpendicular mobilization: This is done by pushing on the myofascial tissue at right angles.
What is the goal of soft tissue mobilization?
The goal of soft tissue mobilization is to help improve muscle function and assist with the healing process of scar tissue in the body.
Some of the other goals of tissue mobilization are listed below.
- Improve range of motion
- Break down or reduce adhesions
- Reduce swelling and edema
- Lengthen muscles and tendons
- Restore functionality
- Decrease pain
Physical therapy for soft tissue mobilization
Physical therapy is an effective form of treatment for various tissue-related injuries.
Physical therapists specialize in different orthopedic and sports-related injuries, including soft tissue mobilization.
Our licensed physical therapist at Paspa PT is trained to pull, knead and manipulate your tendons and muscles to help restore function and provide pain relief.
In addition, this form of therapy can help optimize your muscle function and help break adhesions.
Our facility in Manhattan, NY, is equipped with a full gym and private treatment rooms that can provide the ideal environment to treat some of your conditions.
Some of the conditions that a physical therapist can treat are:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Movement function disorders
- Lower back pain
- Arthritis
Our facility in Manhattan, NY, is equipped with a full gym and private treatment rooms that can provide the ideal environment to treat some of your conditions.
Some of the conditions that a physical therapist can treat are:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Movement function disorders
- Lower back pain
- Arthritis
Is soft tissue mobilization the same as massage?
No. Traditional massage is usually aimed at working out stress in the body, while medical soft tissue mobilization seeks to restore normal function to the affected areas.
A physical therapist requires a significant amount of training and knowledge in physiology and human anatomy to understand how manipulating the tissues will impact physical function.
Our PTs at Paspa PT can evaluate, assess, and treat various movement disorders that affect body tissue.
In addition, we can also provide personalized treatment programs that include the following listed below.
- Education
- Manual techniques
- Stretching exercises
- Strengthening exercises
- Kinesiology taping
- Electric Therapy
Contact us today and make a booking for an appointment at our facility in Manhattan, NY.
FAQ
Soft tissues in the body usually refer to ligaments, tendons, muscles, or fascia.
Electrotherapy can be used to rehabilitate soft body tissue injuries as a muscle conditioning tool for athletes and more.
Stretching falls under both manual therapy and therapeutic exercise.
The Graston technique is a form of manual therapy that uses patented tools to mobilize soft body tissue in various body parts.
Book an Appointment
Book an appointment for a consultation with an Orthopedic Physical Therapist at Paspa PT located in Manhattan, New York.