What is
Soft & hard tissue manipulation?
A form of naturopathic physical medicine that uses gentle force to re-establish normal movement and function.
Using gentle force, the physician manipulates spinal segments and joints to re-establish normal movement and function. Naturopathic manipulation is often used for chronic or acute pain management.
Naturopathic physical medicine (NPM), including naturopathic manipulative treatment (NMT), has historically been an integral part of naturopathic medicine, and has been included in naturopathic medical education and licensure since the first naturopathic college opened in 1902.
Naturopathic physicians combine appropriate diagnostic and imaging methods with physical medicine as part of an integrated approach, both to treat health disorders and to optimize structure and function in healthy people. This includes the musculoskeletal and postural, nervous, circulatory, respiratory, metabolic, psychosocial and bio-energetic systems, always applied according to naturopathic principles and the individual needs of each patient.
What it involves
NMT uses manual and mechanical means on the body’s tissues and structures, including bones, fascia, muscles, tendons, ligaments, joint capsules, bursae, scar tissue and visceral organs, anywhere in the body: the spine, cranium, thoracoabdominal cavity and extremities.
Techniques can include oscillation, thrust, pressure and sustained tension; high- and low-velocity and amplitude techniques; traction; mobilization through physiologic ranges of motion; and repositioning of displaced tissues.