Manual Therapy

Soft/Deep Tissue Mobilization

Tissue Mobilization is a hands-on technique that consists of gentle pressure and stretching to release tight muscles and increase mobility in the joints. This hands-on treatment is particularly helpful for patients with musculoskeletal injuries or neck tension. However, it can be used to release tightness anywhere in the body.

This treatment is may be performed with the patient seated or lying down on a table. The therapist will use his/her hands and arms to apply gentle pressure over the sore areas of the body. Areas treated might include your hips, shoulders, lower extremities (feet, ankles, calves), or neck.

Benefits of Soft/Deep Tissue Mobilization:

• Improved blood flow and reduced muscle tension
• Increased range of motion, decreased muscle soreness, and reduced inflammation to help anyone, including athletes looking for improved sport performance
• Normalized muscle balance to help patients with headaches or migraines.

For more information about Greendale Physical Therapy’s soft/deep tissue mobilizationservices, call (855) 459-5000 today!

IASTM/Graston Technique™

Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) uses stainless steel instruments on the skin and superficial tissues to reduce stiffness, increase mobility, and ease pain. This treatment is used in combination with standard therapy techniques including soft tissue mobilization, joint/tissue mobilizations, positional release, and joint/tissue manipulation.

Our therapists use this technique to reduce muscle tightness and increase joint range of motion (ROM). It can be beneficial for patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain caused by arthritis, osteoporosis, or degenerative conditions.

Our therapists can apply the IASTM/Graston technique to the shoulders, hips, knees, elbows, back, neck, and other regions. This is an innovative way to manage your pain and improve your function after surgery, trauma, or chronic pain.

The benefits of the IASTM/Graston Technique:

• Improve ROM, decrease knee pain and tight muscles in patients with arthritis.
• Decrease inflammation caused by tendonitis, bursitis, tennis elbow/golfer’s elbow (medial/lateral epicondyle pain), or carpal tunnel syndrome (wrist).
• Break down scar tissue in the myofascial system.
• Decrease patellofemoral pain associated with runner’s knee.
• Reduce muscle/tendon stiffness and improve functional mobility of joints.

For more information about Greendale Physical Therapy’s IASTM/Graston Technique, call (855) 459-5000 today!

Stretching

Stretching is an important part of physical therapy for any patient. Stretching exercises improve flexibility and range of motion to help you move better and decrease your risk of injury or re-injury.

There are various types of stretches including static, dynamic, active, and passive. Our therapists can identify your specific stretching needs to help bet your body back in balance and give you a home exercise program to improve your long term success.

Such programs may include:

• Improve ROM and flexibility of muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the back, shoulders, elbows, wrists, fingers, hips (groin), neck/upper spine (cervical spine), or knees.
• Prevent muscle/tendon stiffness and reduce your risk of re-injury.

For more information about Greendale Physical Therapy’s stretching services, call (855) 459-5000 today!

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation

Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) is an advanced technique that can be used to improve both active and passive range of motion in the joints. It’s especially helpful to target specific muscles that may be stiff or injured.

PNF can be used to help you stretch all areas of your body. The benefits of PNF include:

• Improve hip flexion, adduction/rotation, or internal/external rotation ROM
• Warm-up before strenuous activity (i.e., sports, hiking, swimming)
• Increase functional ROM of joints (shoulder, wrists, hips), decreased risk of re-injury.

PNF is often used with other physical therapy techniques to increase flexibility and function. Our therapists can determine whether PNF is right for you during your initial evaluation.

For more information about Greendale Physical Therapy’s Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation services, call (855) 459-5000 today!

Myofascial Release

Myofascial release is a hands-on treatment designed to reduce pain and increase ROM in specific areas of the body. It works through the skin and superficial tissues to target tight muscles, adhesions (bands) that restrict movement, and restrictions in your joints. This technique can be used with other therapies including IASTM/Graston, active release techniques, or movement integration.

Myofascial release is helpful for patients with:

• Chronic neck/upper back pain
• Shoulder pain
• Elbow pain (tennis elbow/golfer’s elbow)
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Knee injuries
• Plantar fasciitis of the heel
• Shin splints

For more information about Greendale Physical Therapy’s Myofascial release services, call (855) 459-5000 today!

Cross-Friction Massage

Cross-friction massage is a technique that helps reduce pain by breaking down scar tissue and remodeling it into more flexible and pliable tissue. It may also be used to treat chronic back or neck pain caused by arthritis or an injury.

This technique is often used to break up scar tissue after surgery or injury. Scar tissue forms when the body repairs itself after an injury and is often stiff and inelastic. It can cause pain, impaired movement, and reduced flexibility/strength of tendons and muscles in the affected area.

A cross-friction massage is helpful for patients with:

• Low back pain, neck pain
• Knee injuries or arthritis of the knee
• Post surgical
• Shin splints

For more information about Greendale Physical Therapy’s Cross-friction massage services, call (855) 459-5000 today!

Joint Mobilization

Joint mobilization helps reduce pain and increase ROM in an area where two bones meet, such as the knee, shoulder, or hip joints. It’s helpful for patients with arthritis of the hips or knees, bursitis (inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs between muscles and bones), arthrofibrosis (scar tissue in the joints), or a labrum tear.

During a joint mobilization, your therapist uses his/her hands to guide and adjust bones into proper position while you relax. This movement may be repeated several times until your therapist determines that the adjustment is complete.

It’s helpful for patients with:

• Shoulder pain
• Hip pain
• Plantar fasciitis of the heel
• Knee injuries or arthritis of the knee
• Adhesive capusulitis
• Post surgical

For more information about Greendale Physical Therapy’s joint mobilization services, call (855) 459-5000 today!

Mulligan Technique

The Mulligan technique is a treatment that targets injuries or areas of pain, usually associated with muscles and tendons. We use this therapy to help restore the tissue’s normal length and elasticity. The goal is to improve the patient’s strength, flexibility, and function.

A typical Mulligan includes some combination of the following techniques:

• Stretching
• Massage
• Manipulation

For more information about Greendale Physical Therapy’s Mulligan technique services, call (855) 459-5000 today!

Joint Manipulation

Joint manipulation is a fast, sometimes forceful movement that helps relocate a joint. For example, your elbow might be bent and rotated out of its socket to the point of pain before being relocated back into proper position. During this process, you may hear a ‘pop’ or feel a muscle release as the joint moves into place. When done correctly, this technique should result in less discomfort and improved ROM.

Manipulation is helpful for patients with:

• Shoulder pain
• Elbow pain (tennis elbow/golfer’s elbow)
• Knee injuries or arthritis of the knee
• Back conditions

For more information about Greendale Physical Therapy’s joint manipulation services, call (855) 459-5000 today!

Strain/Counter-Strain

Strain/counter-strain is a fast, low-force technique that helps restore soft tissues to their normal length and position. For example, if you have a muscle strain or sprain (such as tennis elbow), your therapist may guide your arm into a different position and gently stretch the affected muscles to reduce pain and improve ROM.

This technique may also be used to treat scar tissue after injury or surgery. Scar tissue is often stiff and inelastic, which can cause pain, impaired movement, and reduced flexibility/strength of tendons and muscles in the affected area.

Strain/counter-strain is helpful for patients with:

• Sprained body parts
• Lower back strain
• Neck strain
• Knee injuries or arthritis of the knee
• Fibromyalgia and chronic pain

For more information about Greendale Physical Therapy’s strain/counter-strain services, call (855) 459-5000 today!

Kinesiotaping

Kinesiotaping involves applying special tape to your skin over injured muscles, tendons, and joints. The purpose of this kinesiotaping is to support body structures by improving ROM and strength; relieving pain; or preventing muscle fatigue after surgery or an injury.

Kinesiotaping is helpful for patients with:

• Knee injuries
• Ankle sprains
• Elbow pain (tennis elbow/golfer’s elbow)
• Sports injuries and conditions

For more information about Greendale Physical Therapy’s kinesiotaping services, call (855) 459-5000 today!

MODALITIES

Heat Treatment/ Cryotherapy

Heat and cold treatments are used to alter blood flow, relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and relax muscles before or after an injury. We may apply moist heat or dry heat, usually for 10-15 minutes at a time to your injury. We may apply an ice pack to areas of pain or inflammation, or may target a small, localized area with an ice massage.

The benefits of this are:

• Reduce pain and inflammation
• Improve muscle tone and contractibility
• Decrease muscle spasms
• Increase joint mobility
• Accelerate healing process of a chronic injury/condition

For more information about Greendale Physical Therapy’s heat treatment/ Cryotherapy services, call (855) 459-5000 today!

Ultrasound

Ultrasound is a noninvasive treatment that uses sound waves to penetrate soft tissues and promote healing. The machine creates high-frequency sound waves that vibrate tissues, which causes tiny bubbles in cell fluid to form to either relieve inflammation or to internally heat up the tissue depending on the setting. This helps relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and increase blood flow to an injury or chronically tight muscles.

Ultrasound is helpful for patients with:

• Muscle strains and sprains