🇺🇸 Approved for CEUs for PTs & PTAs in 43 states

How do patients believe manual therapy works? An exploratory qualitative study

Review written by Dr Jarod Hall info

Key Points

  1. Despite the widespread use of manual therapy in rehabilitation, patients often have limited understanding of its mechanisms and instead describe the outcomes it produces.
All key points available for members only
Start free trial Icon
Or log in here

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

Manual therapy is a commonly utilized intervention in musculoskeletal rehabilitation and includes techniques such as joint mobilization, manipulation, soft tissue mobilization, massage, and passive range of motion (1,2). These interventions are often incorporated as part of a multimodal treatment approach to reduce pain and improve movement quality. Current evidence suggests that manual therapy exerts its effects through a complex interaction of biomechanical, neurophysiological, and contextual mechanisms (3-5).

Despite growing scientific understanding of these mechanisms, little research has examined how patients themselves understand manual therapy and what they believe is happening within their body during treatment. Existing literature has primarily focused on patient satisfaction, treatment preferences, and expectations rather than their conceptual understanding of how manual therapy works.

Understanding patient beliefs is clinically relevant because these beliefs may influence treatment expectations, adherence, and clinical outcomes. If patients interpret manual therapy through an outdated biomedical framework, such as the belief that structures are being “realigned”, this may shape their perception of recovery and the role of the clinician (6).

The purpose of this study was to explore patients’ understanding of how manual therapy works in individuals receiving outpatient physical therapy for musculoskeletal conditions.

Current evidence suggests that manual therapy exerts its effects through a complex interaction of biomechanical, neurophysiological, and contextual mechanisms.
bulb
The psychological and relational aspects of manual therapy appear to play a meaningful role in patient experience, the therapeutic interaction, physical touch, and patient-provider relationship may contribute significantly to treatment outcomes.

METHODS

Participants

Start free trial Icon
to unlock full access to this review and 1253 more
Or log in here
Trustpilot