Are you having numbness, tingling or weakness in your arms or legs? This is often caused by nerve compression at the joints of the spine. By using hands-on manual therapeutic techniques, the quality of motion at these joints can be improved to limit nerve compression and reduce symptoms.
Anatomy of the Spine
The spinal cord consists of long tracts of nerves that allow the brain to communicate with the body to interpret sensation and to implement actions via movement. These nerve fibers travel through the spine, and exit through the facet joints at various levels to innervate the muscles of your body. If there is an issue in the way the spine moves, this nerve transmission can be interrupted due to compression on the nerve itself. This can result in sensations of numbness, sensations of tingling or pins and needles, and weakness of the extremities. The way these symptoms present is determined by the level of the spine that is affected.
Manual Therapy and Spinal Motion
While exercising is a large component of physical therapy, manual therapeutic treatment used in conjunction with exercise helps to provide additional benefit and can speed up the timeline of recovery. Manually mobilizing the spine often consists of sustained pressure and controlled motions specific to the presentation of symptoms and aims to improve the quality of motion at the joints of the spine. This is different from higher velocity manipulations that aim to achieve cavitation or “cracking” of the joints. As movement of the facet joints of the spine improves, the space in which the nerve travels is increased and compression of the structure is reduced; ultimately improving the nerve-related symptoms. Once mobility is restored, therapeutic exercise can be prescribed to maintain the progress made and allow you to return to your desired activities.
If you experience back pain, neck pain, or notice weakness or sensations of numbness and tingling, physical therapy can help. At Respire Physical Therapy, we take pride in ensuring each patient has one-on-one attention that allows time for manual therapy in addition to functional therapeutic exercise to address your specific needs. Call 703-671-1871 or click here to schedule an appointment with one of our Physical Therapists today to reduce your symptoms and get back to your favorite activities!
Tags: Natural Pain Relief, choosept, Physical Therapy, arlingtonva, Respire Physical Therapy, alexandriava, fallschurchva, physical therapist, ptworks, hands-on manual therapy, manual therapy
