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Therapeutic manipulation refers to any technique by which a disease or disorder is treated using the remedial use of the hands, especially by a skilled practitioner. Some of these techniques include:

Acupuncture Massage Physiotherapy Chiropractics Myopractics

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is one of the oldest, most commonly used medical procedures in the world. Originating in China more than 2,000 years ago, acupuncture began to become better known in the United States in 1971, when New York Times reporter James Reston wrote about how doctors in China used needles to ease his pain after surgery. The term acupuncture describes a family of procedures involving stimulation of anatomical points on the body by a variety of techniques. American practices of acupuncture incorporate medical traditions from China, Japan, Korea, and other countries. The acupuncture technique that has been most studied scientifically involves penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles that are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation.

Massage Massage is now one of the most popular forms of alternative therapy, whether it's for stress relief, muscular therapy or even emotional healing. But with so many different types of massage available, it can be hard to know what's right for you? The most basic form of massage is Swedish. The gentle soothing stimulation of the soft tissue and muscles is a wonderful means of calming nerves and improving overall circulation.

Physiotherapy Physiotherapy is a science-based healthcare profession which views movement as central to health and well being. Core skills used by physiotherapists include manual therapy, therapeutic exercise and the application of electrophysical modalities. Physiotherapists believe it is of crucial importance to take note of psychological, cultural and social factors which influence their clients. They try and bring the patients into an active role to help make the best of independence and function.

Chiropractics Chiropractics is based on the scientific fact that your body is a self-regulating, self-healing organism. These important functions are controlled by the brain, spinal cord, and all the nerves of the body. The skull protects the delicate tissues of the brain. The moving bones of the spine protect the vulnerable communication pathways of the spinal cord and nerve roots. If the nervous system is impaired, it can cause malfunction of the tissue and organs throughout the body. Chiropractic is the science of locating offending spinal structures, the art of reducing their impact to the nervous system, and a philosophy of natural health care based on your inborn potential to be healthy.

Myopractics As an advanced form of bodywork, Myopractic integrates together the soft tissues and skeleton to achieve deep relaxation and relieve chronic pain. Based on the same system of training as that in the Bowen Technique, Myopractic employs postural assessment as a guide to its treatment plan for clients aiming to restore the body's structural integrity back towards its ideal state. Myopractic shows that where there is a bone or joint misalignment, then there is a muscle that is responsible. Once the muscle disorder is corrected, the skeleton will respond correcting the misalignment.

Effective pain management is an increasingly diverse field and manipulative therapies are only one field to consider. Pain management is a matter of personal choice and a case of finding what works well for your individual needs. Effective management of pain can often make the difference between living a life governed by debilitating pain and leading a relatively normal life.

Copyright 2005 Anne Wolski