There is also grading scale for traction. There are 3 grades.

Grade 1 -Takes the pressure off the joint without separating the joint ends.

Grade 2 – takes up the skin and muscle slack and the joint ends are separated.

Grade 3-Joint ends are separated as well as soft tissues are stretched.

(Source physiopedia.com)

In short Manual therapy is a specialised form of treatment used by trained hands in Allied healthcare professionals, of which Physiotherapists being one of them that use it a lot.

So there are different techniques that used in Manual Therapy;

• Joint mobilization – The definition would be that it mobilizes the joint by performing passive movements. It can be at varying speed and amplitude.
• Instrument Assisted Soft tissue Mobilization or in other words IASTM- This technique uses specific specialised tools to mobilise the soft tissues to regain functionality and reduce pain.
• Joint manipulation – It is a Therapeutic passive high velocity and low amplitude movement on a joint structure obviously not going beyond its limitations. The idea is to restore functionality.
• Lymphatic Drainage. It’s a specialised therapy that helps to daring the lymph manually. It is particularly useful after surgeries that involve lymph nodes.
• Traction – This involves pulling up joint structure to replenish the synovial fluid.
• Trigger point release or Myofascial release- where the muscles tend to form ‘knots’ at places where there is build-up of lactic acid. This creates stress in whole muscle tissue and thus becomes the point of pain. This technique is to “iron out’ the knots.
• Passive Range Of Motion -Where the joint is moved by the therapist completely thru out its Range.
• Active Assisted Range of Motion -This is where the joint is moved by therapist as well as by the patient’s own effort.
• Massage –Different techniques of Therapeutic massage is used. some of which are:
• Effleurage (Stroking)
• Petrissage
• Tapotement
• Frictions
• Vibrations