Muscles, tendons, ligaments, and their protective outer layer, fascia, make up the human body’s soft tissue. This tissue can shorten and constrict due to injury, trauma, or overuse, resulting in aches, pains, and restricted movement.
If you’ve suffered an injury and are curious about soft tissue mobilization and if it’s an option for you, it’s important to educate yourself as to the best options to facilitate healing. That’s why the dedicated staff at Mid-County Physical Therapy has put together this helpful guide so you can learn more about this pain-relieving practice and how physical therapy solutions can help improve your quality of life.
What is Soft Tissue Mobilization?
Soft tissue mobilization is a broad term that refers to various manual therapy procedures that can be used to help people regain or improve function.
Soft tissue mobilization and manipulation come in a variety of forms that aid in relaxing muscles and increasing range of motion. The primary goal of this rejuvenating physical therapy is to mend soft tissue through hands-on stretching exercises that mobilize and manipulate muscles.
When a physical therapist mobilizes your soft tissues, the muscles can lengthen and contract smoothly, which reduces dysfunction.
There are several ways a physical therapist can perform soft tissue mobilization. The deep tissue massage technique is common on injury sites. Therapists use localized pressure strokes transversely across muscle, tendon, or ligament fibers to decrease scar tissue formation, often known as “transverse friction massage.”
Soft tissue mobilization is common after surgeries to reduce pain. Therapists employ enhanced mobilization instruments to discover knots or limitations then treat them using a hand-held gadget as a therapeutic procedure. Applying mild-to-moderate pressure to the affected area can help reduce inflammation and improve healing.
What Can Soft Tissue Mobilization Treat?
Soft tissue mobilization techniques are common for injuries, but they can also be used to treat chronic pain conditions. Some of the most common reasons people seek this type of physical therapy treatment are:
- Muscle sprains or strains
- Neck and back pain
- Headaches
- Fibromyalgia
- Ligament sprains
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Shin splints
- Post-surgery pain
Soft tissue mobilization can treat other injuries and conditions. Getting in touch with a physical therapist about your specific issue will help you learn if this will benefit you.
Benefits of Soft Tissue Mobilization
Soft tissue mobilization has a straightforward goal: to break down scar tissue and enhance pain-free motion.
Other goals of this type of treatment include:
- Reducing swelling and edema
- Improving your range of motion
- Restoring function to the injured area
- Breaking down adhesions
With the help of expert healthcare professionals at Mid-County Physical Therapy, you’ll likely be able to see an improvement in your pain after your first session.
Start Your Soft Tissue Mobilization Treatment Today
Whether you have a chronic condition or have suffered an injury, soft tissue mobilization may be the treatment that’ll work best for you.
If you’re interested in learning more and getting started on soft tissue mobilization, you can book your appointment with Mid-County Physical Therapy today!