Manual therapy
What is manual therapy?
Any obstacle to freedom of movement can considerably restrict one’s quality of life. The causes of pain or movement restriction can be detected and treated by the manual therapist. They will help you retrieve your freedom of movement, to ease and control pain. We will work together to find a durable solution for your complaints. [1]
Manual therapy can loosen your stiff limbs and muscles and put an end to niggling pain. The therapist will try to find any cause of pain and offer you a customized treatment. [1]
Manual therapy helps you:
to get better by means of manual techniques (following international standards)
to achieve a rapid recovery because we try to find the cause of your complaints and deal with them
to remain free of complaints by training the body and improving fitness levels [1]
Manual therapy is a branch of physiotherapy. A manual therapist tries to identify movement disorders in the body and eases blockages in order to restore muscular balance. Whereas an osteopath treats all body structures, a manual therapist focuses mainly on the joints and the mechanical operation of the body. [2]
I have taken a manual therapy course for doctors under the guidance of the following medical practioners: Dr. G. Vyncke (HH Leuven), Dr. K. Vermeersch (AZ Groeninge Kortrijk) en Dr. A. Vermeersch (GZA Antwerpen). This course is held in collaboration with UZ Pellenberg. I also worked as a GP trainee for two years at the joint practice of Dr. O. Fonteyn and Mr. T. Daelemans at Rotselaar.
How does it differ from osteopathy?
In my capacity as a doctor, I always try to approach your complaints from a holistic point of view and aim to go beyond the action of a manual therapist. As general practitioners, we treat patients and their bodies as a whole. The body, the interplay between the various organs, and the social and mental aspects all interact.
My working method is definitely linked to the philosophy behind osteopathy. However, my preferred approach is one based on scientific evidence underlying the manual techniques which I personally apply [3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12]. I try to plan a program for the treatment of your complaints on the basis of manual techniques, exercise therapy whether or not by referral, and classical medicine.
In the event of chronic or recurrent problems of resistance to therapy you may, if you so wish, be referred to an osteopath. We will gladly guide you in your choice. Osteopathy is only partially reimbursed by sickness funds. [13]
How does it differ from physiotherapy?
We will gladly refer you to a physiotherapist if we consider this useful for your treatment program from a medical point of view.
Physiotherapy focuses mainly on rehabilitation and on the local treatment of movement disorders via muscles and joints without focusing on the spinal vertebrae or on the influence of organs. The aim of physiotherapy is the easing pain and helping you to move freely again. This is achieved especially through exercise therapy with or without devices, possibly with an additional massage. [2]
You need a medical prescription for appointments with the physiotherapist. You are free to choose your own physiotherapist. Physiotherapy is reimbursed by your health insurance in Belgium.[2]