Manual Orthopedic Physiotherapy

Manual Orthopedic Physiotherapy is a type of physical therapy that is focused on the utilization of the hands of the provider to provide assessment and hands-on therapeutic treatment.  Dr. Alderman utilizes the concepts of the Biopsychosocial model and Regional Interdependence of medicine to assess, evaluate, develop and implement a plan of care. 

The Biopsychosocial model is influenced by  3 parts that all together provide a picture of your health.  

Biopsychosocial Model

1. Biology:  physical health, genetic, body systems
2. Psychology: mental health, behaviors, 
3. Social Environment: Family, Friends, Co-workers

Regional Interdependence model is an approach that looks at the Musculoskeletal system as a Functional Machine made up of multiple interconnected moving parts.  Think of the Regional Interdependence model as a watch or the “Dem Bones” song.  At the center of this model is the potential that remote unrelated impairments in one part of the body may have an effect on the primary reported symptoms. 

Let’s look at an example of this, a patient reports Low Back Symptoms. Limited Great Toe mobility could contribute to these symptoms.  In this example of Regional Interdependence the functional chain compensations of walking would potentially look like the following.

Regional Interdependence Model Example

• Limited Great Toe mobility
• Decreased Ankle Pronation
• Decreased ability to absorb force during walking during loading response
• Decreased ability to push off through the Great Toe during toe off 
• Increased knee valgus (push knees In) to assist in  toe off force production
• This knee movement would create movement at the Hip
• This Hip movement would add loads to tissue in the Low Back
• Low Back Symptoms!