Criteria for the most physiological manipulative techniques

Abstract

There are as many techniques of manipulation as there are schools of manual medicine, but criteria for assessment of the various techniques in use are lacking. The only distinction made is between thrust and mobilisation technique.

The criterion offered here is, whether the techniques make use of the patient’s own muscles, which I believe are more physiological and more effective than passive mobilisation by the therapist. The main methods are: post-isometric relaxation (PIR), facilitated by inhalation and exhalation; eye movements; gravity induced mobilisation; and reciprocal inhibition (RI). Some techniques, especially gravity induced relaxation, can be used by the patients themselves.

Key Words:

• Mobilisation
• manipulation
• facilitation
• postisometric relaxation
• release
• reciprocal inhibition
• self-treatment