Manual Therapy in Carmel & Zionsville

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Find Relief Through Manual Therapy in Carmel & Zionsville

If you’re suffering from chronic musculoskeletal pain that medication can’t seem to shake, manual therapy may be the solution you’ve been searching for. At Restore Your Core Physical Therapy in Carmel, our experienced physical therapists utilize advanced manual techniques to provide lasting relief for a wide range of painful conditions. Unlike traditional physical therapy exercises, manual therapy takes a hands-on approach that works deep into the muscles, connective tissues, tendons and joints to alleviate pain at its source. Sessions are tailored to your unique needs with techniques like massage, joint mobilization, passive stretching and myofascial release. This direct tissue manipulation boosts blood flow, reduces inflammation, improves mobility, accelerates healing, and addresses dysfunctions that cause ongoing discomfort in ways traditional therapy or medication often can’t.

Who Can Benefit from Manual Therapy in Carmel & Zionsville

Manual therapy is suitable for men and women of all ages seeking relief from various musculoskeletal pain conditions including:

  • Chronic back, hip and neck pain
  • Sports injuries to muscles, joints or tendons
  • Pain linked to injuries and overuse syndromes
  • Sprains, strains and discomfort following surgery or fractures
  • Tendonitis, ligament injuries and carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Fibromyalgia and generalized pain syndromes
  • Temporomandibular joint pain (TMJ)
  • Arthritis and repetitive strain injuries

This treatment also enhances function and mobility issues due to:

  • Limited flexibility or range of motion
  • Poor balance and coordination
  • Postural problems and muscular imbalances
  • Gait abnormalities and movement impairments

In many cases, manual therapy combined with personalized at home exercises, offers longer lasting relief than pain medication or surgery alone. If you have nagging, achy muscle and joint discomfort that prevents you from enjoying daily life activities, manual therapy may be the game-changing solution you need.

How Our Seasoned Therapists Bring Rapid Relief

Led by Dr. Hannah Schoening, our team leverages advanced manual techniques and decades of experience to accelerate and enhance your body’s natural restorative processes.

We thoroughly assess your condition to pinpoint the source of your discomfort then develop a tailored treatment plan that incorporates the ideal combination of hands-on therapies to meet your needs. Dr. Hannah Schoening combines clinical expertise with an intuitive healing touch to locate painful trouble spots, assess joint and tissue mobility, then skillfully manipulate and massage them to decrease restrictions, tension and inflammation.

As blood flow increases to deprived areas, our therapists can feel tissues gradually relax allowing for increased mobility and less pinching of nerves. Specialized techniques are used to gently coax your body into proper alignment, function, and a state of balance. Custom exercises and lifestyle advice help reinforce and maintain positive changes achieved through manual therapy while decreasing risk of re-injury.

What to Expect During Your Manual Therapy Sessions

Your first appointment at our Carmel & Zionsville clinics will be dedicated to a thorough assessment. Dr. Hannah Schoening will review your health history, discuss your goals for treatment, then conduct orthopedic tests to identify mobility restrictions, muscular weaknesses and isolate the root cause of discomfort. Hands-on palpation skills help detect areas of tissue inflammation, adhesions, and restrictions needing addressed. You may undergo range of motion and postural alignment tests as well. Once Dr. Hannah Schoening has a clear understanding of your unique situation, a tailored treatment plan will be outlined including the use of specific manual techniques to provide optimal relief. What happens during a manual therapy session? Depending on your individual needs, your therapist may use:

  • Massage – Various massage methods using hands, fists, forearms or small appliances are used to apply pressure to tense areas prompting tissues to relax
  • Mobilization – Gentle, repetitive joint movements help expand restricted motion around areas like the spine, shoulder, wrist, hip, knee or ankle
  • Stretching – Muscles and connective tissues are carefully stretched to increase extensibility, range of motion and restore normal alignment
  • Myofascial Release – Sustained gentle pressure is applied to fascial restrictions to release tension and scar tissue adhesions
  • Traction – A gentle, prolonged pulling action on the spine to relieve nerve root compression around vertebral discs
  • Trigger point therapy – Ischemic pressure is applied to deactivate painful knotted muscle fibers called trigger points

During sessions take time to communicate openly with your therapist rating your pain levels so pressure can be adjusted for maximal comfort and benefit. Plan to attend therapy sessions from 30 minutes to an hour one or more times per week depending on severity. Progress is monitored consistently and techniques adjusted accordingly to ensure steady improvement.

Restore Your Core Physical Therapy is not your average physical therapy! I leave feeling liberated, saying “I can heal” rather than feeling like I’ll be broken and injured for life. I have made so much progress and am in a place I never thought I would be after a negative c-section experience that left me with a weak pelvic floor and nerve issues. I am so thankful for Amy and her amazing team!

Chelsea Wilkins

I was in a lot of pain for almost 4 years. My tail bone and hip woke me up at night and kept me from participating in activities. I was skeptical about how much the core mussels had anything to do with my pain. After just 4 visits to Restore Your Core Physical Therapy, I was already feeling better. The therapist are wonderful! They listened to me and even took a therapy idea of MINE and put it into play. They were able to focus on multiple issues and provide me with several easy core workouts that helped relieve most of my pain. I can honestly say that I only have pain now when I start to slack in my core exercise treatments. Thank you so much!

Julie Price

Restore Your Core Physical Therapy Answers To Manual Therapy Questions

Does manual therapy hurt?
You may experience some minor discomfort as tense muscles and stiff joints are addressed, however techniques should never be seriously painful. Communicate with your therapist so pressure can be modified to tolerable levels for the best results. Some soreness following the first few sessions is common as tissues start moving more freely.

What if I feel too much pain during a session?
Your comfort level always takes top priority, so therapists expect feedback about pain levels throughout treatments. Speak up any time techniques become too intense so pressure can be regulated or methods modified if needed.

How long before I see improvement with manual therapy?
Some patients experience some relief immediately after initial treatments while for others it takes numerous sessions over weeks or months for substantial improvement. Timing varies widely based on factors like age, severity of condition, body composition and commitment to home exercises. Be patient through the process, attending appointments consistently so your therapist can work out muscular restrictions to activate long term healing. Pair manual therapy with rest, heat/ice application, postural correction, mobility exercises and stress reduction for best results.

About The Author

Amy Robinson, a PT, DPT, CLT, empowers patients to unlock their full potential in PT, DPT, PRPC, CLT, WHNC. Years of experience fuels their passion for helping individuals reclaim vibrant lives. At Restore Your Core Physical Therapy in Carmel & Zionsville, Amy Robinson combines innovative techniques with personalized care, tackling a broad spectrum of physical challenges.

Start Healing Today at Our Carmel & Zionsville Clinics

We hope this overview helped you better understand how our knowledgeable therapists use advanced manual therapy techniques to decrease pain and improve function without drugs or surgery. If chronic back, neck, joint or muscular pain is limiting your ability to participate in activities you love or perform daily responsibilities, don’t wait to pursue healing.
Call Restore Your Core Physical Therapy in Carmel & Zionsville now to schedule a thorough diagnostic assessment so Dr. Hannah Schoening can develop your customized pain relief plan. We look forward to helping you finally experience long term freedom from nagging aches, stiffness and mobility restrictions holding you back from living your very best life!