Improve comfort with movement
Manual techniques may help reduce pain or sensitivity enough to make movement and exercise more tolerable.
MANUAL THERAPY
Hands-on care that supports movement, strength, and function.
Manual therapy may be used when clinically appropriate to help address pain, mobility restrictions, or movement limitations. At OnePoint, hands-on treatment is paired with active rehabilitation so short-term changes can support long-term progress.
OUR APPROACH
Manual therapy is a tool — not the entire treatment plan.
Hands-on treatment can be useful for some patients, but our goal is not to make you dependent on passive care. We use manual therapy when it helps improve movement or symptom tolerance, then build on those changes with exercise, strengthening, education, and return-to-activity progression.
Address movement restrictions
Joint or soft-tissue techniques may be used when mobility restrictions are contributing to a functional problem.
Reinforce active treatment
Any short-term improvement should be followed by movement and strengthening that helps the change carry over into daily activity.
WHAT MANUAL THERAPY MAY INCLUDE
Different hands-on techniques for different clinical needs.
The techniques used depend on the examination findings, diagnosis, goals, and how the patient responds.
Joint mobilization
Spinal manipulation when appropriate
Soft-tissue techniques
Mobilization with movement
Manual stretching
Neck and spine treatment
Extremity joint treatment
Movement reassessment afterward
INDIVIDUALIZED CARE
The technique should match the problem.
There is no single manual-therapy technique that is best for every diagnosis. Your therapist selects treatment based on the findings from your evaluation and how the technique fits into the larger rehabilitation plan.
ACTIVE REHABILITATION
The goal is what you can do after the hands-on treatment.
Manual therapy can create a temporary change in pain, mobility, or movement tolerance. The more important step is using that change to move better, strengthen, and gradually tolerate the activities that matter to you.
That is why our clinicians commonly pair hands-on treatment with mobility exercises, motor-control work, progressive resistance, and functional movement.
A typical progression
Hands-on treatment → reassess movement → reinforce the change with exercise → progressively build strength and load tolerance → return to meaningful activity.
WHEN IT MAY BE USEFUL
Manual therapy can complement care for many orthopedic conditions.
Whether it is appropriate depends on the patient and the findings from the evaluation rather than simply the diagnosis.
Neck & Back Pain
Hands-on care may be used alongside exercise and education when mobility or pain is limiting movement.
Shoulder Mobility
Joint and soft-tissue techniques may support restoration of motion and comfortable strengthening when appropriate.
Lower-Extremity Conditions
Manual therapy may support mobility and symptom management while progressive loading restores strength and function.
Post-Operative Rehabilitation
Selected techniques may be used as healing allows to address mobility restrictions and support progressive rehabilitation.
Sports-Related Injuries
Hands-on treatment may be one component of a broader plan to restore movement and return athletes to higher-level loading.
Chronic & Recurrent Pain
Manual therapy may help with short-term symptom management while active strategies address capacity, confidence, and function.
ORTHOPEDIC CLINICIANS
Experienced hands-on care across both OnePoint clinics.
Our orthopedic clinicians use manual therapy selectively as part of evidence-based rehabilitation. Several have advanced training in spinal manipulation and related techniques.
Collin Eggebrecht, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS
Virginia-Highland • Orthopedics
Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist with advanced spinal manipulation and dry needling training.
Jonathan Joseph, PT, DPT
Virginia-Highland • Clinic Manager • Orthopedics
Treats varied musculoskeletal conditions with an evidence-based approach that may include manual therapy when appropriate.
Amanda Lee, PT, MSPT
Virginia-Highland • Orthopedics
Has advanced mobility and joint-control training along with dry needling experience.
Kelvin Carter, PT, DPT, OCS
Edgewood/Candler Park • Clinic Manager • Orthopedics
Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist with advanced spinal manipulation and dry needling training.
Katherine Semones, PT, DPT, OCS
Edgewood/Candler Park • Orthopedics
Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist with advanced spinal manipulation and dry needling training.
Iain Struckmeyer, PT, DPT
Edgewood/Candler Park • Orthopedics
Has advanced training in spinal manipulation and dry needling with a strong orthopedic and sports-rehabilitation background.
TWO ATLANTA LOCATIONS
Manual therapy is available at both OnePoint clinics.
Availability and the specific techniques used depend on the clinician, the patient’s needs, and whether hands-on treatment is appropriate for the plan of care.
Virginia-Highland
867 Greenwood Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
- Orthopedic and sports rehabilitation
- Clinicians with advanced manual-therapy and spinal-manipulation training
- Kinvent force testing and Suji BFR
Edgewood / Candler Park
1328 DeKalb Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
- Orthopedic and sports rehabilitation
- Clinicians with advanced manual-therapy and spinal-manipulation training
- VALD, AlterG, and Suji BFR
FREQUENT QUESTIONS
Manual therapy questions
What is manual therapy?
Manual therapy refers to hands-on techniques used by physical therapists to address joint mobility, soft-tissue restrictions, pain, and movement limitations as part of a rehabilitation plan.
Is manual therapy the same as a massage?
Not necessarily. Some techniques involve soft tissue, but physical-therapy manual treatment can also include joint mobilization, manipulation, movement-assisted techniques, and other targeted interventions based on the evaluation.
Will I need manual therapy at every visit?
No. Whether manual therapy is used depends on your presentation and goals. As rehabilitation progresses, the emphasis often shifts more toward exercise, strength, and independent movement.
Do you use spinal manipulation?
Some OnePoint clinicians have advanced spinal-manipulation training and may use it when clinically appropriate and with patient consent.
GET STARTED
Looking for an orthopedic physical therapist?
Our new-patient team can connect you with an appropriate clinician and location based on your condition, goals, and scheduling needs.
New Patient Appointments
404-600-4627
Select option 1 for a new-patient appointment at either OnePoint location.
Email newpatient@onepointpt.comPlease do not include sensitive medical information in email or website contact forms.