Manual therapy, physiotherapy or classic physiotherapy? What are the actual differences? We explain the different terms and forms of therapy. 

At our Physios Cologne practice, we not only offer traditional physiotherapy, but also manual therapy. Many of our patients therefore often ask us: What exactly is manual therapy? And how does this therapy differ from Physiotherapy or physiotherapy? 

Now that a number of terms from our everyday work have come up, it's best to start at the beginning. Because in order to understand what manual therapy is, we first need to clarify what physiotherapy is - and what it is not. 

Physiotherapy as a whole 

The term physiotherapy generally covers the entire profession with all its active and passive treatment approaches. This means that if someone "has to go to a physiotherapist" or "is prescribed physiotherapy", this does not say anything about the subsequent form of therapy. 

At our practice, we offer very different forms of physiotherapy. Patients can think of these forms as the building blocks of holistic physiotherapy. This includes physiotherapy as well as manual therapy - two different forms of therapy that are both part of movement therapy. Another component of physiotherapy is physical therapy with measures that utilise physical influences such as electricity or heat and cold, as well as massages. 

The difference between physiotherapy and manual therapy

Strictly speaking, we cannot compare manual therapy and physiotherapy. This is because manual therapy is a sub-area of physiotherapy. The more important question is: What is the difference between physiotherapy and manual therapy? Nowadays, the terms physiotherapy and physiotherapy are often used interchangeably.

Both physiotherapy and manual therapy are forms of movement therapy. Physiotherapy consists of forms of therapy that are intended to improve mobility or alleviate pain. The exercises are usually active and involve the patient. 

Manual therapy focusses primarily on the musculoskeletal area, i.e. the treatment of muscles, joints and the nervous system. Here we feel for specific disorders and mobilise them using special manual techniques. The term actually already reveals the tool used in this form of therapy: "manual" means "performed by hand". 

Example of manual therapy

An example makes the concept of manual therapy even more tangible. For example, patients may be prescribed manual therapy if they suffer from problems and limitations with the temporomandibular joint. The diagnosis is then often "CMD", craniomandibular dysfunction: a malfunction of the temporomandibular joint.

Manual therapy can help here. By treating the shoulders, neck and also the jaw joints and muscles, i.e. the manual "pressing and working" by a therapist, the joints can be mobilised again and muscles loosened. The manual action can provide relief, even if the therapy itself can be painful at first. 

Is every physiotherapist also a manual therapist? 

No, not every physiotherapist can offer manual therapy. This requires in-depth further training. In Germany, manual therapists must complete at least two years of further training with a certificate examination in order to be authorised to practise and offer this therapy. There are now also internationally recognised Bachelor's and Master's degree courses. 

At Physios Köln, we are recognised therapists for manual therapy

We can offer manual therapy at our physiotherapy practice in Cologne. This is because we are not just trained physiotherapists. We have completed a three-year course of study in the Netherlands: the Master's programme in Manual Therapy. This enabled us to apply practice and theory, deepen our knowledge and successfully obtain the manual therapist certificate.