Advanced Manual Therapy
Highly-skilled Bodywork with a Clear Purpose
If you are looking for hands on treatment that goes beyond massage, advanced manual therapy is what you need.
Advanced manual therapy is a hands-on approach that’s designed to relieve pain, improve movement, correct posture, and prevent future injuries. With over 18 years of experience, a doctorate in physical therapy, and advanced training in manual techniques, I apply my expert understanding of how the body moves and how pain develops in the musculoskeletal system to help improve your function and feel your best.
In each session, I carefully evaluate your body, paying attention to how your muscles, joints, and tissues feel while also listening to you about your pain pattern and history. This lets me treat the specific problem areas I find during that visit.
While I often use advanced technology in my treatments, nothing compares to the effectiveness of skilled, hands-on therapy. I customize each session to what you need, whether it’s gentle techniques like craniosacral therapy or deeper work like joint mobilization and chiropractic-style adjustments. My goal is always to make sure you’re comfortable while promoting long-term healing and balance in your body.
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If you want real pain relief and changes in how your body moves and feels, advanced manual therapy is the answer.
Don’t settle for just any type of bodywork or hands-on therapy. This is bodywork at its highest level. With over 18 years of experience and a doctorate in physical therapy, I can help improve your body’s movement and relieve pain, often in just one session.
Manual therapy is a key part of my physical therapy approach, but it’s also available on its own for those who want a simpler option. Physical therapy includes a full evaluation, diagnosis, and a plan that uses targeted exercises, education, and hands-on therapy. It often involves multiple sessions and may include treatments like dry needling, shockwave therapy, or electrical stimulation to help you achieve long-term results.
For those looking for something less involved, manual therapy or purposeful bodywork is offered as a standalone service in 30- or 60-minute sessions. It can help with pain relief, relaxation, or even injury prevention, with less of a time commitment for those who may not be ready for a full physical therapy plan.
Who is advanced manual therapy for?
Advanced manual therapy is great for anyone who wants to relieve pain, move better, prevent injuries, or just relax and recover. It’s especially helpful if you’re trying to avoid surgery and prefer a more hands-on, natural approach. Whether you’re dealing with pain from sports injuries, arthritis, or posture problems, manual therapy gets to the root of the issue, helping you heal and move more easily over the long term.
My approach is always tailored to your comfort level, whether you need a gentle touch, a more aggressive technique, or anything in between. I ensure that the intensity of the treatment is a balance between what you feel comfortable with and what your body responds best to.
I use this hands-on approach both as part of my physical therapy treatments and as a standalone service. Manual therapy may be right for you if you want to:
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Get rid of or reduce pain, whether it’s acute or chronic
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Release tension and help your muscles and nerves function better
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Stretch out tight muscles and tissues
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Loosen stiff joints, whether in your spine, hips, shoulders, or other areas
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Fix posture problems and bring your body into better balance, especially if poor posture or movement habits have caused issues
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Create a healing, relaxed state by improving blood flow, draining toxins, and increasing your awareness of how your body feels
What to expect from your manual therapy session
Whether you book a standalone hands-on therapy session or a physical therapy appointment that includes manual therapy, you can expect a mix of hands-on assessment and full-body treatment. I use touch and conversation to find the areas that need attention and might be causing your pain. As we work together, I adjust how gentle or intense the treatment is based on your preferences and what your body responds to best. Techniques might include:
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Joint mobilization to ease stiffness and improve movement
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Myofascial release to relieve tightness in your tissues and improve overall health
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Active soft tissue release to relax muscles and improve flexibility
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Chiropractic-style adjustments to help with spine alignment and posture
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Thai massage and stretching to lengthen tight muscles and fascia
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Tui Na – a traditional Chinese massage technique​​
No matter what techniques we use, you’ll leave the session feeling informed, relaxed, and noticing a positive difference in how your body moves and feels.
Why choose Colin O’Banion for advanced manual therapy?
As a Doctor of Physical Therapy with over 18 years of hands-on experience, I offer a level of expertise that goes beyond what typical massage therapists or bodywork practitioners provide. My advanced understanding of anatomy, biomechanics, and fascia, combined with highly skilled hands, ensures that my manual therapy is both effective and personalized to your specific needs—whether as a standalone service or as part of a comprehensive physical therapy plan.
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Each manual therapy session is designed to provide optimal results, including pain relief, improved mobility, injury prevention, and postural correction.​
Advanced Manual Therapy FAQs
How is advanced manual therapy different from massage?
While massage often focuses on relaxation and relieving surface-level muscle tension, advanced manual therapy is a clinical approach used by physical therapists to work on multiple layers of the body, including muscles and deeper soft tissues, joints of the spine and extremities, and fascia. It goes beyond relaxation by addressing the structural root causes of pain and dysfunction, providing longer-lasting relief and improved function. This is why I often refer to my manual therapy as bodywork with a focused purpose.
Can I book a manual therapy session without a full physical therapy evaluation?
Yes, you can book a 30- or 60-minute manual therapy session without a full physical therapy evaluation. During these sessions, I assess and treat your whole body manually at the same time. However, if you’re dealing with a more complex issue or long-term pain, I may recommend a full evaluation to ensure we’re effectively addressing the root cause and providing the most appropriate care.
Is manual therapy included in physical therapy sessions?
Yes. Manual therapy is an integral part of my physical therapy approach. It’s highly effective in restoring mobility, relieving pain, and addressing the root causes of dysfunction. However, you can also book manual therapy sessions on their own if you are simply seeking skilled hands-on treatment without the commitment to a full physical therapy plan of care.
Can manual therapy really help with pain relief and fix my body?
Yes, manual therapy can be highly effective in relieving pain and improving how your body functions. By targeting areas of tension, inflexibility, and joint stiffness, my approach addresses the root causes of discomfort. Whether you're dealing with chronic pain, recovering from an injury, or managing poor posture, skilled hands-on care can lead to noticeable improvements in movement and overall well-being.