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Hands-on treatment for stiffness and movement
A stiff foot or ankle can turn stairs or a short walk into hard work. Hands-on care may ease movement for a while, so walking or exercises are easier to keep up; it does not find or correct the cause on its own, and you can choose not to have it.
At a glance
- Where it fits: alongside exercise, footwear or another plan, and only if assessment supports it. How we decide
- How we judge response: we agree a change to look for, such as easier stairs or a longer walk, and stop if it isn’t adding value. More
- Cost: before starting, we confirm whether it is part of your appointment fee or charged separately. More
We use foot mobilisation (FMT) and instrument-assisted soft-tissue mobilisation (IASTM), alongside exercise, footwear advice or other care where suitable.
How we decide whether hands-on care fits
- We first assess the symptoms and how the foot or lower limb is moving before recommending a technique.
- If hands-on care may help, we explain its purpose, what it may feel like, its limitations and the alternatives before you consent.
- Techniques may involve guided joint movement or a hand-held tool applied to soft tissue. We adjust or stop if it is not comfortable.
- Hands-on care is usually considered alongside movement, exercise, footwear or another plan, with response reviewed rather than assumed.
How we check it is helping
Before continuing, we agree what change to look for—such as easier stairs, a longer walk or keeping up your exercises. If it is not adding meaningful value alongside the rest of your plan, we discuss stopping or changing the approach.
How it is charged
Before any hands-on care starts, we confirm whether it is part of your appointment fee or charged separately. See appointment fees—Medicare care-plan rates differ.