Types of Treatment

Soft Tissue Mobilization

Soft tissue mobilization is a form of manual physical therapy where your licensed PT uses hands-on techniques on your muscles, ligaments and fascia in order to break adhesions and optimize your muscle function.

Adhesions are your body’s attempt to heal a soft tissue injury with a lengthy inflammation process, resulting in long strands of collagenous scar tissue. These new tissues pull against one another, forming trigger points of pain.

Goals of Soft Tissue Mobilization:

  • Break down or reduce adhesions
  • Improve range of motion
  • Lengthen muscles and tendons
  • Reduce swelling and edema
  • Decrease pain
  • Restore functionality

Soft Tissue Mobilization Techniques

Your licensed PT is specially trained to use his or her hands to push, pull and knead your muscles, ligaments, tendons and nerves in precise ways to help bring you pain relief and return you to functionality.

Specific techniques for soft tissue mobilization include:

Sustained pressure – pushing directly on the restricted tissue and holding

Unlocking spiral – pushing on the restricted tissue in alternating clockwise and counterclockwise rotating motions

Direct oscillations – rhythmic pushing on the restricted tissue

Perpendicular mobilization – pushing on the myofascial tissue at right angles

Parallel mobilization – pushing along the seams of muscles

Perpendicular strumming – rhythmic pushing along muscle border, followed by rubber of top of muscle

Friction massage – pushing across the grain of the muscles, tendons and ligaments

Being able to implement soft tissue mobilization techniques requires a significant amount of training in human anatomy and physiology and understand how manipulating the tissues will impact physical function. Physical therapists specialize in evaluation, assessment and treatment of movement function disorders. Soft tissue mobilization is just one of the strategies that we use to help our patients meet their functional goals.

If you have any strains, sprains, or questions about the techniques used in soft tissue mobilization, give us a call!

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We offer complimentary screens at all PT Central locations. If you’ve been dealing with a nagging injury or persistent pain, don’t wait any longer.

(866) 866-3893

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Soft tissue mobilization can help relieve pain and improve function.

To help achieve optimal results with soft tissue mobilization, we encourage you to:

  • Do your home exercises faithfully
  • Maintain a normal body weight
  • Get regular aerobic exercise
  • Engage in weight training, as directed by your physician

The path to healing might be quicker than you expect.

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Here’s what some of our patients had to say

This is what every physical therapy experience is supposed to be. Hands-on. Intelligent. Caring.

five stars Allen L. PT Central Patient

PT Central has the greatest therapists! The staff is kind, welcoming, and thoughtful. I wouldn’t go anywhere else.

five stars Vicki O. PT Central Patient

If you’re looking for someone caring to help get you back to normal… you must come to PT Central.

five stars Tierra G. PT Central Patient

I will always come to PT Central. If I could, I would rate it more than 5 Stars. These people deserve a higher rating.

five stars Joyan M. PT Central Patient

This is the best experience I’ve ever had. They’re extremely knowledgeable and truly care about helping people.

five stars Jake B. PT Central Patient

Find out if Soft Tissue Mobilization is right for you.

Schedule an appointment or call us at (866) 866-3893 to discuss more options.

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Physical therapist examining African American man (20s) on treatment table, using goniometer to measure range of motion of knee.