Orthopedic manual therapy--an overview. Part I: the extremities

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Manual Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Musculoskeletal Evaluation

Background:

• Orthopedic manual therapy involves evaluating and treating extremity conditions.
• Understanding passive movement is fundamental to manual therapy.
• Different schools of thought exist within orthopedic manual therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an introductory overview of orthopedic manual therapy.
• To define concepts related to passive movement.
• To explore the evaluation and treatment methodologies of prominent practitioners.

Main Methods:

• Review of introductory concepts of passive movement.
• Examination of general concepts, evaluation schemes, and treatment procedures.
• Analysis of four distinct schools of thought in manual therapy.

Main Results:

• Defined types of passive movement, limitations, and treatment movements.
• Presented methodologies of James Cyriax, Freddy Kaltenborn, Geoffrey Maitland, and John McM Mennell.
• Highlighted the importance of evaluation and treatment skills.

Conclusions:

• Developing comprehensive skills in both evaluation and treatment is crucial before practicing orthopedic manual therapy.
• This overview serves as a foundational resource for understanding diverse manual therapy approaches.