What is manual therapy?
Manual therapy is the hands-on side of physiotherapy. Rather than relying on machines or a printed exercise sheet alone, the physiotherapist uses precise, graded movements of your joints and soft tissues to reduce pain, restore range and settle an irritated area down. When the technique is matched correctly to the problem, patients often feel a measurable difference in movement within the first few sessions.
At Physio Buddy in Chandkheda, every manual therapy session is delivered personally by Dr. Maitri Kothari, BPT, MPT (Musculoskeletal and Sports). She has spent more than a decade treating spines, shoulders and knees across Ahmedabad, with over 2,000 recoveries behind her. That experience matters here more than anywhere else in physiotherapy, because the entire value of manual therapy lives in the skill of the hands applying it.
The techniques we use: Maitland and Mulligan
Maitland mobilisation
The Maitland concept uses rhythmic, graded oscillatory movements applied to a joint. Gentle grades calm pain in an irritable joint, while deeper grades work into stiffness and restore the sliding and gliding a healthy joint needs. It is particularly useful for neck pain and cervical spondylosis, low back pain and the stubborn capsular tightness of a frozen shoulder.
Mulligan mobilisation with movement
Mulligan techniques pair a sustained, pain-free glide applied by the therapist with your own active movement. You move, and the therapist repositions the joint so that the movement no longer hurts. Because the correction happens while you are moving, improvements tend to carry over quickly into daily activities. We use it often for tennis elbow, restricted neck rotation and ankle stiffness left over from old sprains.
What a session at our Chandkheda clinic looks like
- Assessment first. Dr. Maitri examines how the joint moves, what reproduces your pain and whether manual therapy is actually the right tool for your case.
- Hands-on treatment. The chosen Maitland or Mulligan technique is applied in controlled, comfortable doses, with constant feedback from you.
- Retesting. The painful or stiff movement is rechecked immediately, so both of you can see whether the technique changed anything.
- Exercise to hold the gains. A short, specific exercise programme locks in the new range so it does not fade by the next morning.
- A clear plan. You leave knowing what we are treating, roughly how many sessions to expect and what to do at home between visits.
Conditions that respond well to manual therapy
- Neck and back stiffness, including sciatica linked to joint restriction
- Frozen shoulder and shoulder impingement
- Knee osteoarthritis and general knee pain
- Tennis elbow, wrist restrictions and ankles that never fully recovered after a sprain
- Headaches that stem from the upper neck
Hands-on care works best alongside movement
Research is consistent on this point: manual therapy gives the best long-term results when it is combined with active rehabilitation. At Physio Buddy, hands-on treatment opens the window and exercise keeps it open, including the McKenzie method for spinal problems. You will never be given passive treatment alone and sent home, because that is how patients end up dependent on a clinic instead of recovered.
Visiting us in Chandkheda
The clinic is at Shop 117, Shyam Saanvi, behind Satyamev Hospital in Chandkheda, open Monday to Saturday, mornings and evenings. Patients come from across North Ahmedabad, and with 450+ Google reviews averaging 4.9 out of 5, most arrive through word of mouth. If travelling is difficult, manual therapy can also be delivered through our home visit service. Message us on WhatsApp at +91 78619 29326 to book, or reach us here.
What Patients Say
"Dr. Maitri Kothari is highly professional. I took 10 days of ultrasound and exercise treatment. I totally got well and healthy. Highly recommended!"
"My mother had knee replacement. Dr. Maitri's post-operative physiotherapy made her walk independently and completely recover. Very grateful!"
Frequently Asked Questions
Does manual therapy hurt?
It should not. Maitland grades are chosen to stay within your comfort, and Mulligan techniques are pain-free by design; if a glide hurts, the direction or grade is changed. Some patients feel mild soreness afterwards, similar to post-exercise soreness, which usually settles within a day.
How many sessions of manual therapy will I need?
It depends on how long the problem has existed and how irritable it is. A recent joint restriction may change noticeably within a handful of sessions, while a long-standing frozen shoulder needs a longer programme. Dr. Maitri gives you an honest estimate after the first assessment and revises it openly as you progress.
Is manual therapy the same as a chiropractic adjustment?
No. Chiropractic manipulation typically uses high-velocity thrusts. Maitland and Mulligan manual therapy uses graded, controlled mobilisations within your comfortable range, grounded in physiotherapy assessment and always paired with exercise. If you are unsure which approach suits your problem, ask us about your specific case.
Is manual therapy safe for older adults?
Yes, when properly assessed. Techniques are graded, so an eighty-year-old with arthritis receives a very different dose from a thirty-year-old athlete. Dr. Maitri screens for osteoporosis, recent fractures and other precautions before any hands-on work begins.
What does a manual therapy session cost in Chandkheda?
Physiotherapy clinic sessions in Ahmedabad typically range from Rs 300 to Rs 800 depending on what the treatment involves. Exact fees for your plan are shared when you call or WhatsApp +91 78619 29326, so there are no surprises at the clinic. Our pricing guide has more context.
Can I get manual therapy through a home visit?
Yes. Maitland and Mulligan techniques need skilled hands rather than heavy machinery, so they travel well. Home visits cover Chandkheda, Motera, Gandhinagar and nearby areas of North Ahmedabad.
Do I need a doctor's referral first?
No referral is needed to see a physiotherapist in India. That said, if your history suggests anything beyond a musculoskeletal problem, such as unexplained weight loss, night pain that does not ease, or fever alongside back pain, Dr. Maitri will send you to a doctor first. She holds advanced certification in identifying back pain red flags.