Manual Therapy

Skilled, hands-on care to reduce pain and restore motion

At Daviess Community Hospital’s CORE Center, manual therapy is a cornerstone of our rehabilitation approach. Also known as hands-on physical therapy, manual therapy uses the clinician’s skilled hands (and, when appropriate, soft-tissue instruments) to reduce pain, improve tissue mobility, and restore healthy joint mechanics—so you can get back to work, family, fitness, and the activities you enjoy. Care is available in Washington and Odon, Indiana, and we welcome patients from Daviess County and across Southern Indiana.

What is manual therapy?

Manual therapy includes two broad categories:

• Soft-tissue techniques — Gentle, targeted pressure and stretch to muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia to ease tension, improve circulation, reduce sensitivity, and optimize tissue glide.
• Joint techniques — Graded mobilization (and select manipulation by trained clinicians, when appropriate and consented) to improve accessory motion (rolls/glides/spins) and help joints move comfortably and efficiently.

Your therapist selects the right technique at the right time and pairs it with exercise, posture/breathing strategies, and movement retraining for long-term results.

Who may benefit

Manual therapy may help when pain and stiffness limit daily function, including:

• Neck or low-back pain; postural or desk-related stiffness
• Shoulder, elbow, wrist/hand, hip, knee, ankle/foot pain and restricted motion
• Tendon and soft-tissue overuse (e.g., rotator cuff, tennis elbow, Achilles, plantar fascia)
• Post-surgical or post-immobilization stiffness (as protocol allows)
• Headaches, jaw discomfort linked to muscle tension
• Scar tightness after injury or surgery affecting comfort or motion

Not every condition requires manual therapy. Your clinician will determine what’s appropriate and how it fits your plan.

How manual therapy helps

• Reduces pain and guarding around joints and soft tissues
• Restores tissue glide and joint motion for easier movement
• Improves load tolerance so exercise and activity feel better
• Accelerates return to function by pairing hands-on care with the right exercises

What to expect

Evaluation

We start with a focused assessment of your symptoms, goals, posture, movement quality, joint mobility, and soft-tissue health.

Treatment

Your clinician may apply graded joint mobilization, myofascial techniques, and/or instrument-assisted soft-tissue mobilization (IASTM) as indicated. Most people describe the sensation as comfortable pressure or “good soreness” that eases quickly.

Comfort & consent

Care is patient-paced and consent-driven. We explain options up front; you can pause or decline any portion at any time.

Home plan

You’ll receive simple mobility drills, strengthening, and self-care strategies to maintain gains between visits.

Techniques we offer

These pages explain our most-used manual therapy options. We’ll keep expanding this section as we add more resources.

• Joint Mobilization — graded accessory motion to improve joint glide and comfort
• Myofascial Release — sustained, targeted pressure to ease soft-tissue restriction
• Scar Management & Remodeling — gentle techniques to reduce scar tightness and improve tissue mobility after injury or surgery
• ASTYM® — instrument-assisted approach that supports soft-tissue healing and remodeling
• Graston Technique® (IASTM) — stainless-steel instruments used to identify and treat restrictive tissue

Looking for something specific? Ask us—our team continually updates our manual therapy toolbox to match your needs.

Locations and scheduling

CORE Center | 421 E. Van Trees Street, Washington, IN
CORE Center at North Daviess | 800 S. West Street, Odon, IN

Call (812) 254-8889 to schedule an evaluation or ask about referral requirements.
We serve patients from Washington, Odon, Jasper, Vincennes, Loogootee, Petersburg, Bloomfield, and neighboring communities across Southern Indiana.

FAQs

Is manual therapy the same as massage?
No. Manual therapy uses specific, skilled techniques to restore joint mechanics and soft-tissue mobility, then pairs these gains with targeted exercise for lasting change.

Will manual therapy hurt?
Treatments are designed to be comfortable and safe. You may feel mild, short-lived soreness as tissues and joints begin to move better. Your clinician adjusts technique to your comfort.

Do I need manual therapy to get better?
Not always. Manual therapy is one tool we use. Your plan may also include strengthening, mobility work, balance training, and movement coaching.

How many sessions will I need?
It depends on your condition and goals. Your clinician will outline a plan and expected timeline after your evaluation.