Modern Manual Therapy

11/14/2025

🔥 PT Podcast Network: EMR, MTSS, & Ankle Sprains: Your Weekly PT Podcast Catch-Up - https://mailchi.mp/modernmanualtherapy.com/the-latest-podcasts-from-the-pt-podcast-network-7242797

11/11/2025

🛑Let's talk about retiring the antiquated concept of "good vs. bad" posture.🛑

Just as we understand there are no inherently good or bad exercises—only contextually appropriate or inappropriate ones—the same nuanced view applies to posture. The real win isn't a static ideal; it's about optimizing behavioral and positional variability.

The new posture is an active state defined by resilience, recovery, and movement frequency:

The Behavioral Pillars of Modern Posture

🔵Move Frequently (The 20/20 Rule): Static load tolerance is finite. Implement the 20/20 Rule: every 20 minutes, perform 20 seconds of movement, often into the opposite direction of your current posture.

🔵Move Well (End-Range Loading): Build tissue tolerance and positional confidence. Incorporate end-range loading daily to maintain and expand your usable movement capacity.

🔵Daily "Work-ins": Movement needs to be integrated, not just scheduled. Commit to at least two mini-walks during the workday, and seek out "work-ins"—simple opportunities like taking the stairs instead of the elevator—to break up sedentary time.

🔵Get 7-8 Hours of Quality Sleep: This is non-negotiable. Recovery is the biological mechanism by which tissues adapt, repair, and become resilient to load. Without adequate sleep, your best mobility drills are undermined.

We are dynamic systems designed to move and adapt. Let’s focus on load variability, frequent movement, and robust recovery to build true resilience.
What's your favorite Work-in strategy to encourage better positional hygiene throughout the day? Share it below! 👇

11/10/2025

💥 PFP Playbook Update: Stop Choosing Sides—Start Combining! 💥

The Hip vs. Knee debate for Patellofemoral Pain (PFP) is officially dead, according to the latest Level 1 evidence.

A major 2024 Network Meta-Analysis in JOSPT confirms what many of us have suspected: the COMBINED Hip & Knee focused exercise program is the undisputed champion.

📊 The Data Doesn't Lie: Combined Wins

The research shows the highest probability of being the BEST treatment for pain and function comes from an integrated approach:

Combined (Hip + Knee): 90% Probability of being the best
Hip-Focused Only: 78%
Knee-Focused Only: 65%

As modern manual therapists, our goal isn't tribalism; it's optimal patient outcomes. This NMA gives us the clinical confidence to ditch the single-culprit mentality.

💡 Your Actionable Takeaway

Ditch the Dogma: PFP is multifactorial. Stop hunting for just the weak quad or just the inhibited glute.

Prescribe Integration: Your gold standard prescription should include exercises targeting both the quadriceps (knee) and the hip abductors, extensors, and external rotators.

Educate to Empower: Use this evidence to explain to your patients why their program is comprehensive. It boosts adherence and demonstrates an evidence-based approach to the kinetic chain.

It's time to elevate your PFP management from "either/or" to "AND." This is how we move the needle in rehab.

What are your go-to combined hip and knee exercises for PFP? Drop them in the comments! 👇

11/10/2025

🤯 Stop Stretching! 2 Self-MobiliZation Hacks for Stubborn Upper Trap Tension - https://mailchi.mp/modernmanualtherapy.com/cts-7242636

11/08/2025

🔥 PT Podcast Network: Chronic Elbow Cases, Business Burnout, & Healing Adult Acne (All the Latest PT Gold!) - https://mailchi.mp/modernmanualtherapy.com/the-latest-podcasts-from-the-pt-podcast-network-7242652

11/06/2025

💡 Quick Fix for Neck & Upper Trap Tension? Think Self-Mobilization!

Ever use the Upper Thoracic Mobilization on a patient and wish they could replicate those results at home? 🤔

The typical upper thoracic mobilization technique is great for passive care, but you can’t exactly self-mobilize the T-spine that way. So, I’m sharing two simple, powerful alternatives your patients can do themselves to attack that stubborn upper quarter pain and tension.

1️⃣ Overcome Resistance (Shotgun Technique): Learn how to use light manual resistance (from your own hands!) to finally allow the neck extensors to get full cervical extension. This is a sustained hold, excellent for a upper quarter reset, especially for those chronically flexed postures.

2️⃣ Chest Opener with Isometric Contraction: This goes beyond a simple stretch. By adding an isometric neck contraction while extending and opening the chest, you isolate the movement to the upper thoracic area and avoid that compensatory low back arch. It’s a great active movement to reset posture.

These are key techniques for addressing everything from upper quarter tension to pain radiating down to the scapula. Plus, they fit perfectly into a "20-20 Rule" (20 seconds every 20 minutes) for desk workers!

What self-mobilization techniques are you currently teaching your patients for the upper quarter? Drop your thoughts below! 👇

11/05/2025

Spinal Manipulation is Not Enough. Get the Eclectic Approach (3/21-22) - https://mailchi.mp/modernmanualtherapy.com/mmttn2024-7242592

11/03/2025

Are you still arguing hands-on vs. hands-off? You're missing the point.

I see too many great PTs waste energy defending manual therapy's (MT) biomechanical effects.

A powerful new 2025 commentary from Lewis, Mintken, & McDevitt confirms what we need to shift our focus to: MT is a powerful neurophysiological tool—it helps the nervous system chill out, making the real long-term work possible.
But here’s the cold, hard truth: Treating MSK with "a bit" of MT and exercise is often LIMITED because we are ignoring the behemoths of health: lifestyle and psychosocial factors.

We're in the clinic for a few hours a week per patient.What happens during the other 165 hours? That's what drives chronic pain and recurrence.

➡️ MT's New Role:
Neuro-Modulator: Calms the system down with systemic sensory input.
Active Rehab Facilitator: Makes the active work (the long-term solution) less threatening and more compliant for the patient.

The Mandate: Become a LIFESTYLE EXPERT.

We must evolve to effectively assess and support behavioral change in areas that dwarf our clinic time:

SLEEP (Deeply impacts pain and healing)
STRESS MANAGEMENT (Cortisol modulation is everything)
NUTRITION (Systemic inflammation is the enemy)
HIGH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY (The required dosage is higher than you think: 3600+ MET-min/week)

It's time to be honest about MT's limitations as a standalone fix and become the holistic lifestyle coaches our patients truly need for lasting change.

Ready to step up your game and integrate this modern approach?

Click to get unlimited access to my flagship course and evolve your practice! 👇 Get unlimited access and earn CEUs https://edgemobilitysystem.com/pages/mmtuqlqshtag

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IASTM, Mobility, Massage and Manual Therapy Tools, ebooks, Webinars, Pain Science products, fitness and more!

11/03/2025

EXERCISE ONLY? 🛑 New RCT Proves You Need MT for Long-Term Shoulder Success. - https://mailchi.mp/modernmanualtherapy.com/cts-7242458

11/01/2025

🧠 Stop Guessing: Evidence-Based Answers for Your Toughest Cases. - https://mailchi.mp/modernmanualtherapy.com/the-latest-podcasts-from-the-pt-podcast-network-7242488

10/30/2025

PTs, let's talk about optimizing long-term results for subacromial shoulder pain.

We all agree that exercise is foundational. But for years, clinical guidelines have provided low certainty on the value of adding Manual Therapy (MT), leading to a persistent question: Does hands-on care truly enhance long-term function, or is it merely short-term relief?

A recent Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT) from Michener et al. (JOSPT Open 2024) offers powerful, one-year evidence that provides the clarity we've needed.

The study compared two groups: an Exercise-Only (EX) program versus the same Exercise program plus targeted Spinal and Shoulder Manual Therapy (EX+MT).

The Convincing 1-Year Data:

📈 Superior Function: At the 52-week follow-up, the EX+MT group demonstrated a clinically meaningful advantage (6.7 points better) on the DASH disability scores compared to the EX-Only group.

👍 Enhanced Satisfaction: The combined approach also led to significantly higher patient satisfaction and a greater percentage of patients reporting a successful outcome.

This evidence strongly suggests that when it comes to durable, meaningful patient improvement, the integrated approach is superior.

Manual Therapy, in this context, isn't a passive fix. It's a key tool used to neuro-modulate pain and sensorimotor processing, creating a crucial "window of opportunity" for the patient to perform the necessary therapeutic exercise more effectively and with less apprehension. It acts as the conduit to better exercise adherence and quality, translating into better one-year outcomes.

If your goal is to achieve the best possible long-term function and patient satisfaction, this RCT suggests that an integrated, multimodal approach should be the clinical gold standard.

You now have compelling, high-level evidence to confidently integrate your manual skills with exercise.

Get the full breakdown and a clear clinical application guide here: https://edgemobilitysystem.com/blogs/updates/ex-vs-exandompt

Based on this evidence, what is one manual technique you plan to intentionally pair with a specific exercise in your next shoulder evaluation?

10/29/2025

STOP Cranking! The Pain-Free Way to Fix Post-Op Knee Extension 🦵 - https://mailchi.mp/modernmanualtherapy.com/cts-7242416