What should you know about OT manual therapy?

An occupational therapist may assess how a joint, muscle, tendon, scar, or nerve affects tasks such as dressing, gripping, reaching, or walking. Treatment can include gentle mobilisation, soft-tissue work, stretching, positioning, and guided movement. The approach should match your examination findings and tolerance. Hands-on work is often combined with exercises, activity changes, or equipment advice so improvements carry into ordinary routines.

Manual therapy may be considered alongside rehabilitation for problems such as cervical spondylosis, myofascial pain syndrome, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, or whiplash. It is not a substitute for diagnosing a new injury or unexplained pain.

Tell the therapist where symptoms start, which movements aggravate them, and what tasks you need to regain. Mention recent injuries, operations, skin problems, altered sensation, blood-thinning medicine, or conditions affecting bone or healing. Wear clothing that permits access to the area. During treatment, report sharp, burning, electric, or worsening pain; mild pressure or stretching should remain within the agreed limit. Follow the home movement plan and notice how symptoms respond afterward.

Stop a session and seek prompt medical advice for new weakness, loss of sensation, severe or rapidly increasing pain, marked swelling, a hot red joint, fever, or trouble controlling your bladder or bowel. After treatment, contact the clinician if symptoms keep worsening rather than settling, or if a new injury occurred. Sudden chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, or collapse needs emergency help.

Which structure or movement are we targeting? What should the technique feel like, and what sensations are a warning to stop? How will we measure progress in a daily task? Which exercises or activity changes should accompany the hands-on treatment?