Techniques we use
- Joint mobilisation: slow, controlled movements of a stiff joint to restore range and ease pain
- Soft-tissue techniques: pressure and stretching to relax tight or overactive muscles
- Muscle energy techniques: gentle contractions against resistance to improve movement
- Nerve mobilisation: gentle movements that help an irritated nerve glide more freely
- Taping, where useful, to support a joint or remind you of better posture
The techniques are chosen after your assessment, explained before we use them, and adjusted to your comfort.
What it can help with
Manual therapy is commonly used for back and neck pain, stiff shoulders including frozen shoulder, knee and hip stiffness, stiffness after surgery or a fracture, tennis elbow, and tension-type headaches linked to the neck.
Why we always pair it with exercise
Hands-on treatment can quickly reduce pain and make movement easier, but its effect on its own tends to be short-lived. Lasting improvement comes from what you do with that window: restoring movement, building strength and changing the habits that load the painful area.
So every manual therapy session at Jeev ends with exercises, and you get a short home programme. Over time, the hands-on part reduces and the exercise part grows, so you rely on us less, not more.
Is it safe?
Mobilisation and soft-tissue techniques are gentle and well tolerated. Some people feel mild soreness for a day afterwards. We screen for conditions where certain techniques should be avoided, such as recent fractures, severe osteoporosis or blood-clotting problems, and change the approach if needed.
How many sessions will I need?
Manual therapy is part of a wider plan rather than a course on its own. Many people notice a difference within the first 2 to 3 sessions; how often we use it after that depends on your progress.
When to see a doctor first
Please see a doctor or go to an emergency department, rather than booking physiotherapy, if you have:
- Pain after a significant fall or accident
- Numbness, weakness or pins and needles that are spreading or getting worse
- Dizziness, double vision, difficulty speaking or swallowing with neck pain
- Fever, unexplained weight loss, or severe pain at night that does not ease with rest
Frequently asked questions
Is manual therapy the same as massage?
It includes some massage-like soft-tissue work, but it also involves specific joint and nerve techniques chosen from a clinical assessment, and it is always combined with exercise.
Does manual therapy hurt?
It should feel like firm pressure or a stretch, not sharp pain. Tell us at any point and we will adjust. Mild soreness for up to a day afterwards is common.
Do you crack backs or necks?
Our focus is on gentle mobilisation and soft-tissue techniques, which are effective for most people. If a different technique might help you, we will explain it and ask for your consent first.
How long do the effects of manual therapy last?
The immediate relief may last hours to days. Lasting change comes from the exercises and habit changes that go with it, which is why we always combine them.
Can manual therapy help frozen shoulder?
It may help ease pain and gradually improve movement, particularly alongside a home stretching programme. Frozen shoulder often takes many months to recover fully, and we will explain the expected course.