Rationale for the Treatment Pain by Manual Therapy

Manuul therapy, with its emphasis o n joint movement and exercise, has become increadngly important for the treatment of pain and dysfunction of the muscu-loskeletal system. The rationale used to explain the success of manual therapy has changed radically in recent years. Early explanations, which included concepts The manual therapist is concerned with the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction problems by the application of pri-mary physical modalities incorporat-ing exercise, passive joint movement (including mobilization and manipula-tion), traction, and massage.'-3 Today, most manual therapists have usually received additional pathology, diagno-sis, and skill training beyond that traditionally obtained at the under-graduate level and have had an ex-tended period of supervised clinical practice. ' Although the historical focus of manual therapy has been directed toward the treatment of back and peripheral joint pain and dysfunction