01/07/2026
The goal is always movement
Manual therapy techniques (massage, cupping, IASTM, mobilizations) are just band-aid solutions if movement isn’t trained alongside them.
I like to compare them to supplements when it comes to nutrition.
For some people, supplements can be more of a necessity. If you’re deficient in a particular vitamin, then a supplement can help address that deficiency.
Other times, supplements support good nutrition and add that 5-10% extra additional help
Manual therapy is the same. Depending on the case, certain techniques are more necessary to apply, but for the most part they support the ultimate goal which is progressing movement
If someone is in acute pain, they can be used to decrease levels of pain to start to introduce movement following its application
Other cases such as addressing stiffness, they can be implemented while doing a movement
In all cases, movement needs to be the main thing
also the headline was a hook, I’ve always applied manual therapy in this way. This ain’t changing in 2026