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An official publication of the ACR and the ARP serving rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals

How Manual Physical Therapy Can Help Rheumatology Patients

Alicia Lovato, PT, DPT  |  Issue: September 2013  |  

As physician and writer Abraham Verghese said, ‘Modern medicine is in danger of losing a powerful, old-fashioned tool: human touch.’

Conclusion

Myofascial pain commonly is overlooked in patients who present with multiple comorbidities or complex disease states. A physical therapist is skilled in evaluating and treating soft-tissue dysfunction with the use of a variety of techniques, and the most common are mentioned above. Hopefully, this article has given you a better understanding of the principles, physiology, and evidence surrounding the techniques of functional dry needling, specific soft-tissue mobilization, myofascial release, muscle energy techniques, and joint mobilization/manipulation.

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Alicia Lovato is a physical therapist at Azura at Home and Azura of Lakewood Rehabilitation Suites in Wheat Ridge, Colo. She studied physical therapy at Regis University and is a member of the ARHP Practice Committee.

References

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  8. Castro-Sanchez A, Mataran-Penarrocha G, Arroyo-Morales M. Effects of myofascial release techniques on pain, physical function, and postural stability in patients with fibromyalgia: A randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2011;25:800-813.
  9. Karageanes S. Principles of Manual Sports Medicine. New York: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2004.
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