When most people think of chiropractic care, they picture spinal adjustments. While adjustments are important, they’re just one part of complete healing. Manual therapy works alongside chiropractic adjustments to create faster, longer-lasting results.
At Austin Preferred Integrative Medicine, we’ve combined chiropractic care with advanced manual therapy techniques for over 10 years. This powerful combination helps our patients get better faster and stay healthy longer. Our expert team understands that true healing requires more than just one treatment approach.
What Is Manual Therapy?
Manual therapy means hands-on treatment techniques that skilled practitioners use to heal injuries and reduce pain. These techniques involve using the hands to manipulate muscles, joints, and soft tissues. Manual therapy goes beyond basic massage to include specific, targeted treatments that address the root causes of pain and dysfunction.
Dr. Jeff Fluitt and the Austin Preferred team are extensively trained in multiple manual therapy techniques. Each method serves a specific purpose in your healing journey. When combined with chiropractic adjustments, manual therapy creates a comprehensive treatment approach that addresses all aspects of your condition.
How Chiropractic and Manual Therapy Work Together
Chiropractic adjustments focus on correcting joint alignment and restoring proper movement to your spine and other joints. These adjustments help remove interference in your nervous system, allowing your body to heal naturally. However, when joints have been misaligned for a long time, the surrounding muscles and soft tissues often need additional attention.
This is where manual therapy becomes essential. While chiropractic adjustments correct the structural problems, manual therapy addresses the soft tissue issues that often accompany joint dysfunction. Tight muscles, trigger points, scar tissue, and fascial restrictions can all prevent your adjustments from holding properly.
Think of it like fixing a car. If you only align the wheels but don’t address the worn suspension parts, the alignment won’t last long. Similarly, combining chiropractic adjustments with manual therapy creates lasting results by treating both the joint problems and the soft tissue issues together.
Types of Manual Therapy at Austin Preferred
Our skilled practitioners use several proven manual therapy techniques to enhance your chiropractic treatment:
Active Release Technique (ART)
Dr. Jeff Fluitt is full-body certified in Active Release Technique, a specialized form of manual therapy that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves. ART combines precise pressure with specific movements to break up scar tissue and restore normal tissue function.
This technique is particularly effective for treating repetitive strain injuries, sports injuries, and chronic pain conditions. ART helps restore proper blood flow, reduces inflammation, and improves range of motion. When combined with chiropractic adjustments, ART creates dramatic improvements in both pain levels and function.
Graston Technique
Both Dr. Fluitt and Dr. Martin Aviles are certified in Graston Technique, which uses specially designed instruments to detect and treat soft tissue restrictions. These stainless steel instruments allow practitioners to locate scar tissue and fascial restrictions that might be missed with hands alone.
The Graston Technique breaks down scar tissue and promotes healing through controlled microtrauma. This process stimulates the body’s natural healing response and helps restore normal tissue texture and function. Patients often notice immediate improvements in flexibility and reduced pain after Graston treatments.
Myofascial Release
Myofascial release targets the fascia, which is the thin tissue that surrounds every muscle in your body. When fascia becomes tight or restricted, it can cause pain and limit movement. Our practitioners use sustained pressure and stretching techniques to release these restrictions.
This gentle but effective technique complements chiropractic adjustments by ensuring that soft tissues can move freely. When fascia is healthy and unrestricted, chiropractic adjustments are more effective and longer-lasting.
Trigger Point Therapy
Trigger points are tight knots in muscles that can cause pain both locally and in other areas of the body. These points often develop when joints are misaligned and muscles have to work harder to compensate. Our manual therapy techniques specifically target these trigger points to provide relief.
By releasing trigger points before or after chiropractic adjustments, we can address both the cause and the effects of joint dysfunction. This comprehensive approach leads to faster healing and better long-term outcomes.
Benefits of Combining Manual Therapy with Chiropractic Care
The integration of manual therapy with chiropractic treatment creates significant advantages over using either approach alone:
Faster Pain Relief
When manual therapy prepares the soft tissues, chiropractic adjustments can be more effective and comfortable. Tight muscles and restricted fascia can make adjustments difficult or uncomfortable. Manual therapy relaxes these tissues, allowing for gentler, more effective adjustments.
Many patients notice immediate pain relief when manual therapy and chiropractic care are combined. The synergistic effect of both treatments working together often produces results that neither technique could achieve alone.
Longer-Lasting Results
One of the biggest advantages of combining these treatments is improved longevity of results. Chiropractic adjustments can restore proper joint alignment, but if the surrounding soft tissues remain tight and restricted, the joints may return to their misaligned position quickly.
Manual therapy addresses these soft tissue restrictions, helping your adjustments hold longer. This means fewer visits and more sustained improvement in your condition.
Improved Range of Motion
Joint restrictions and soft tissue tightness both contribute to limited range of motion. By addressing both issues simultaneously, patients typically see dramatic improvements in flexibility and movement quality.
Dr. Daniel Kaunator, with his sports medicine emphasis, often combines manual therapy with chiropractic care to help athletes regain full range of motion quickly. This comprehensive approach gets athletes back to their sports faster and with reduced risk of re-injury.
Enhanced Healing Response
Manual therapy techniques like ART and Graston Technique stimulate blood flow and promote tissue healing. When combined with the nervous system benefits of chiropractic adjustments, the body’s natural healing processes are enhanced significantly.
This improved healing response means faster recovery from injuries and better long-term tissue health.
Manual Therapy Techniques in Detail
Understanding the specific manual therapy techniques used at Austin Preferred helps you appreciate how they enhance your chiropractic treatment:
• Soft tissue mobilization breaks down adhesions and scar tissue • Joint mobilization improves joint mechanics and reduces stiffness
• Fascial stretching restores normal tissue elasticity and movement • Pressure point release eliminates muscle knots and trigger points • Cross-friction massage promotes proper collagen formation during healing
Each technique serves a specific purpose in your overall treatment plan. Dr. Fluitt and the team select the most appropriate techniques based on your individual condition and needs.
Conditions That Benefit from Combined Treatment
The combination of manual therapy and chiropractic care is particularly effective for treating various conditions:
Sports Injuries
Athletes often develop both joint dysfunction and soft tissue restrictions from repetitive movements and acute injuries. The combination of chiropractic adjustments and manual therapy addresses all aspects of sports injuries for complete healing.
Dr. Kaunator’s background in treating UCLA gymnasts and professional dancers gives him unique insight into how manual therapy can enhance athletic performance and prevent injuries.
Auto Accident Injuries
Car accidents frequently cause both spinal misalignments and soft tissue damage. Whiplash, for example, involves both joint dysfunction and muscle strain. The combined approach ensures that all injury components are addressed comprehensively.
Dr. Fluitt’s Master’s Certification in Brain Injury Traumatology & Whiplash makes him particularly skilled at using manual therapy to enhance recovery from auto accident injuries.
Chronic Pain Conditions
Long-standing pain often involves complex interactions between joint dysfunction and soft tissue restrictions. Breaking the cycle of chronic pain requires addressing both components simultaneously.
Work-Related Injuries
Repetitive strain injuries from workplace activities typically involve both postural problems and soft tissue overuse. The combination of chiropractic care and manual therapy addresses both the postural issues and the soft tissue damage.
The Science Behind Combined Treatment
Research supports the effectiveness of combining manual therapy with chiropractic care. Studies show that patients receiving both treatments typically experience greater improvements in pain, function, and quality of life compared to those receiving either treatment alone.
The scientific basis for this improvement lies in how the techniques complement each other:
| Treatment Component | Primary Effect | How It Enhances Chiropractic Care |
|---|---|---|
| Chiropractic Adjustments | Restores joint alignment and nerve function | Creates foundation for soft tissue healing |
| Manual Therapy | Addresses soft tissue restrictions and scar tissue | Helps adjustments hold longer and work more effectively |
| Combined Approach | Treats both structural and soft tissue components | Produces synergistic effects greater than either alone |
What to Expect During Combined Treatment
When you receive both manual therapy and chiropractic care at Austin Preferred, your treatment session is carefully coordinated for maximum effectiveness. The session typically begins with an assessment of your condition and any changes since your last visit.
Manual therapy often comes first to prepare the tissues for adjustment. This might involve techniques like myofascial release or trigger point therapy to relax tight muscles and improve tissue quality. The manual therapy portion usually takes 10-15 minutes and focuses on the areas that need the most attention.
Following manual therapy, Dr. Fluitt or another practitioner performs your chiropractic adjustments. With the soft tissues properly prepared, these adjustments are often more comfortable and effective. The entire process is designed to maximize your comfort while achieving the best possible results.
Advanced Manual Therapy Techniques
Austin Preferred stays current with the latest advances in manual therapy. Our practitioners are trained in cutting-edge techniques that enhance traditional chiropractic care:
Fascial Distortion Model (FDM)
Dr. Fluitt is certified in the Fascial Distortion Model, which provides a unique way of diagnosing and treating fascial injuries. This approach uses specific hand gestures and body language from patients to identify exactly where fascial restrictions are located.
FDM techniques are particularly effective for acute injuries and can often provide immediate relief when combined with appropriate chiropractic care.
Selective Functional Movement Assessment
Dr. Martin Aviles uses Selective Functional Movement Assessment to identify movement dysfunctions that contribute to pain and injury. This assessment helps guide both manual therapy and chiropractic treatment to address the root causes of dysfunction rather than just symptoms.
Dry Needling Integration
Both Dr. Aviles and Kristin Jarrett are certified in dry needling, which can be combined with manual therapy and chiropractic care for enhanced results. Dry needling helps release trigger points and improve muscle function, complementing other manual therapy techniques.
Patient Success Stories
The combination of manual therapy and chiropractic care has helped countless patients achieve remarkable results:
“Dr. Jeff and his team are amazing! Professional, empathetic, personal and patient. I’m able to move my neck again, in only 5 visits, without extreme pain or pain medicine. I credit this to the experienced team and integrative program, combining chiropractic care with physical therapy.” – Shannon Fitzpatrick
“Dr Fluitt is the best Chiropractor I’ve ever been to! His office is filled with good vibes and the best physical therapists that make you feel like you’re an old friend when you come in. I was really scared when I hurt my back but he created a great treatment plan and I was up n running in no time!” – Jade Skaggs
Training and Expertise
The effectiveness of combined manual therapy and chiropractic treatment depends heavily on the skill and training of the practitioners. Austin Preferred’s team brings exceptional qualifications to your care:
Dr. Jeff Fluitt holds certifications in Active Release Technique, Graston Technique, and Fascial Distortion Model. His post-graduate training in Brain Injury Traumatology provides additional expertise in treating complex conditions. Dr. Martin Aviles brings fresh perspectives with his recent training and certifications in multiple manual therapy techniques.
This extensive training ensures that your manual therapy is performed by true experts who understand how to integrate these techniques with chiropractic care for optimal results.
Customizing Your Treatment Plan
No two patients are exactly alike, which is why Austin Preferred creates customized treatment plans that combine manual therapy and chiropractic care based on your specific needs. Your treatment plan considers several factors:
Your initial assessment reveals which manual therapy techniques will be most beneficial for your condition. The severity and duration of your symptoms help determine the frequency and intensity of treatments. Your personal goals and lifestyle factors influence how we structure your care plan.
The plan evolves as you progress through treatment. Techniques that are most helpful early in treatment may be replaced by different approaches as your condition improves. This dynamic approach ensures that you continue making progress throughout your care.
Prevention and Maintenance
Once your acute condition has resolved, the combination of manual therapy and chiropractic care becomes an excellent tool for preventing future problems. Regular maintenance care helps keep both your joints and soft tissues healthy.
Many patients choose to continue with periodic combined treatments to maintain their health and prevent minor issues from becoming major problems. This proactive approach to health care can save time, money, and discomfort in the long run.
The Austin Preferred Difference
What sets Austin Preferred apart is our commitment to truly integrative medicine. We don’t just offer multiple services – we carefully coordinate them to create treatment plans that are greater than the sum of their parts.
Our practitioners communicate constantly about your progress and adjust your treatment plan as needed. When manual therapy and chiropractic care are combined thoughtfully, the results are often dramatic and long-lasting.
The clinic’s focus on treating root causes rather than just symptoms means that your manual therapy and chiropractic care work together to address the underlying problems causing your pain and dysfunction.
Research and Evidence
The effectiveness of combining manual therapy with chiropractic care is supported by extensive research. Studies consistently show that multimodal approaches to musculoskeletal problems produce better outcomes than single-treatment approaches.
Research has demonstrated several key benefits of combined treatment:
- Faster pain reduction compared to either treatment alone
- Improved functional outcomes in daily activities and work performance
- Longer-lasting results with reduced likelihood of symptom recurrence
- Higher patient satisfaction with overall treatment experience
- Reduced need for medication or more invasive interventions
- Better return-to-activity rates for athletes and active individuals
This evidence base gives us confidence that the combined approach offers real advantages for our patients.
Getting Started with Combined Treatment
If you’re considering the combination of manual therapy and chiropractic care, Austin Preferred makes it easy to get started. Your initial consultation includes a comprehensive assessment that helps us understand both your joint function and soft tissue condition.
During this assessment, we evaluate your posture, movement patterns, joint mobility, muscle tension, and pain patterns. This thorough evaluation allows us to design a treatment plan that uses the most appropriate combination of manual therapy and chiropractic techniques for your specific condition.
We also take time to explain how the treatments work together and what you can expect during your care. Understanding the process helps you participate actively in your recovery and achieve better results.
| Assessment Component | What We Evaluate | How It Guides Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Joint Function | Range of motion, alignment, stability | Determines adjustment techniques needed |
| Soft Tissue Quality | Muscle tension, trigger points, scar tissue | Guides manual therapy technique selection |
| Movement Patterns | How you move during daily activities | Identifies dysfunction patterns to address |
| Pain Patterns | Location, intensity, triggers | Helps prioritize treatment areas |
| Functional Goals | What you want to return to doing | Shapes overall treatment objectives |
Conclusion: The Power of Integration
The combination of manual therapy and chiropractic care represents the future of musculoskeletal treatment. By addressing both joint dysfunction and soft tissue restrictions simultaneously, this integrated approach produces results that neither treatment could achieve alone.
Austin Preferred Integrative Medicine has perfected this combination over more than 10 years of serving the Austin community. Our expert team understands exactly how to coordinate these treatments for maximum effectiveness and patient comfort.
From manual therapy in Steiner Ranch to chiropractic care in Lakeway, we serve patients throughout the greater Austin area. Residents of Westlake, Seven Oaks, and Highland Park West have discovered the benefits of our integrated approach to healing. Our convenient location makes it easy for patients from Cat Mountain Villas, Northwest Hills, and Tarrytown to access expert care.
Whether you live in Roy on the Lake, Westlake Highlands, The Hills, Lost Creek, or Barton Creek, Austin Preferred provides the coordinated care you need for complete healing. Our team understands that each Austin community has unique lifestyle demands, and we tailor our best chiropractor Austin services accordingly.
Don’t settle for treatment that only addresses part of your problem. Experience the difference that truly integrated manual therapy and chiropractic care can make in your healing journey.
Start Your Integrated Healing Journey Today
Ready to experience the enhanced results that come from combining manual therapy with chiropractic care? Contact Austin Preferred Integrative Medicine today to schedule your comprehensive consultation.
Call us at 512-442-2727 or visit our website to learn more about our holistic medicine approach and how manual therapy can enhance your chiropractic treatment.
Austin Preferred Integrative Medicine
6836 Bee Cave Rd Building 1, Suite 200
Austin, TX 78746
Phone: 512-442-2727
Email: info@austinpreferred.com
Website: https://austinpreferred.com/