Effects of Physical Inactivity and Treatment with Manual Therapy

Dr. Metin Mutlu from Memorial Wellness Physical Medicine Department provided information about pain caused by sedentary lifestyle and treatment applications with manual therapy.  

Lack of movement leads to muscle weakening

Physical activity supports body muscles and especially the spine, ensures joint stability and activates back muscles. However, sedentary lifestyle leads to weakening of these muscles and consequently pain in joints. Moving and exercising improves not only physical health but also psychological health. Exercising from childhood and making it a habit is important for maintaining a healthy life. A study conducted showed that people in Turkey use the internet an average of 8 hours per day, with 3 hours of this time spent on social media. It is stated that 80 percent of the population are social media users. This means intensive use of smartphones, tablets and computers. As people reduce their physical activity; excessive weight, low back and neck pain, chronic conditions follow. Back, neck and spine pain is particularly seen in young people. [caption id="attachment_147782" align="aligncenter"] Dr. Metin Mutlu[/caption]

Weakened muscles lose their function

Back, neck and spine pain are among the most common health problems encountered. The sedentary lifestyle brought by urban life restricts mobility and causes joints and muscles to lose their function, resulting in back, neck and spine pain. If a person is overweight, losing this weight, moving more and exercising regularly can be beneficial in reducing pain. Manual therapy, one of the oldest treatment methods, can also enable pain to be treated without medication.  

Manual therapy is performed with hand-applied maneuvers

Manual therapy generally encompasses a group of treatment methods that serve to treat functional disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Manual therapy is performed with hand-applied maneuvers. Manual therapy is performed by doctors and physiotherapists who have received special training in this application. Since incorrect techniques can lead to permanent disability, specialists who have received manual therapy training should definitely be preferred.  

In manual therapy, movement capability is restored to joints and muscles

If the body's mobility is restricted, the affected area is moved repeatedly with movements such as rotation or stretching. In manual therapy, blockages and tensions are manually relaxed and functionality is restored to the joint. These treatments primarily treat mechanical or degenerative disorders of joints, muscles and spine. Manual therapy treatment is performed by passively moving the patient's body to eliminate blockages, tensions and other complaints in muscles and joints. Before treatment, patient history is obtained, comprehensive examination is performed and imaging techniques are used. Once the cause of pain is identified and suitability for manual therapy is determined, treatment begins.

Manual therapy is applied to treatable conditions

Manual therapy aims to correct "treatable" functional disorders in the musculoskeletal system or spine. For example, in cases such as disc herniation where nerve roots are affected, inflammatory rheumatism like rheumatoid arthritis, cancers, bone diseases like advanced osteoporosis, serious vascular diseases like arterial disease and aneurysm, or post-surgical conditions, manual therapy should be avoided in the affected area.