PNA Manual Therapy Encyclopedia
Region-Wise Manual Therapy Applications
Step into a patient's clinical story, follow the therapist's decision, and check the movement that matters. The detailed lessons come first. Browse general overviews by region when you want additional context—not a substitute for supervised techniques.
Start with the patient, not the technique
Each detailed lesson connects assessment, positioning, contact, safe force, clinical choices and reassessment. The shorter general overviews remain accessible in small regional collections, so the main library loads without hundreds of extra cards.
Clinical region
TMJ & Craniofacial
Detailed technique chapters for this region are still being authored.
Browse 22 general overviews for TMJ & CraniofacialClinical region
Cervical
Maitland Joint Mobilization
Cervical Central / Unilateral PA Mobilization
Technique-specificMechanical neck pain with segmental stiffness.
Read the clinical guideMulligan NAGs, SNAGs & Self-SNAGs
Cervical Rotation SNAG
Technique-specificPainful/restricted cervical rotation with a clear immediate response
Read the clinical guideMuscle Energy Technique (MET)
Cervical Rotation MET
Technique-specificPain-limited or muscle-guarded cervical rotation after red-flag screening
Read the clinical guideMyofascial Release (Direct & Indirect)
Cervical / Upper Trapezius MFR
Technique-specificMyofascial neck pain
Read the clinical guideStrain Counterstrain / Positional Release
Upper Trapezius Positional Release
Technique-specificHighly irritable upper trapezius tenderness/guarding
Read the clinical guideTrigger-Point Pressure Release
Upper Trapezius Pressure Release
Technique-specificLocalized myofascial tenderness reproducing familiar neck/shoulder symptoms
Read the clinical guideManual Traction & Joint Distraction
Manual Cervical Traction
Technique-specificSelected compression-sensitive neck/radicular symptoms with clear favorable response
Read the clinical guideClinical region
Thoracic
Maitland Joint Mobilization
Thoracic Central PA Mobilization
Technique-specificThoracic stiffness
Read the clinical guideHVLA Thrust Manipulation
Thoracic HVLA — Clinical Setup & Safety Principles
Technique-specificSelected thoracic mechanical pain/hypomobility when trained clinician judges a thrust appropriate
Read the clinical guideMyofascial Release
Thoracic Paraspinal MFR — Broad, Sustained Contact
Technique-specificA person says their upper back 'feels like cardboard' when twisting to reach the back seat. You check thoracic rotation and rib sensitivity rather than assuming fascia is adhered.
Read the clinical guideClinical region
Ribs & Chest Wall
Detailed technique chapters for this region are still being authored.
Browse 22 general overviews for Ribs & Chest WallClinical region
Lumbar
Maitland Joint Mobilization
Lumbar Central / Unilateral PA Mobilization
Technique-specificSelected non-specific low-back pain with a positive comparable sign
Read the clinical guideMuscle Energy Technique (MET)
Lumbar / Pelvic Rotation MET
Technique-specificSelected non-specific low-back stiffness with muscular guarding
Read the clinical guideMyofascial Release (Direct & Indirect)
Thoracolumbar Fascial MFR
Technique-specificPerceived lumbar stiffness/myofascial pain as an adjunct
Read the clinical guideFascial Manipulation
Lumbar Fascial Manipulation — Focused Point Approach
Technique-specificSelected myofascial lumbar movement restriction using the system's assessment logic
Read the clinical guideStrain Counterstrain
Lumbar Quadratus Lumborum — Positional Ease
Technique-specificA person feels a familiar localized ache when rising from a chair or reaching to one side. The question is whether a specific quadratus-lumborum-related tender point can be made comfortably quieter in a shortened position.
Read the clinical guideSoft Tissue Mobilization
Lumbar Paraspinal Soft-Tissue Mobilization
Technique-specificA patient says their back feels 'locked' after a long day standing. The visible problem might be guarded bending, not a tissue knot waiting to be crushed.
Read the clinical guideClinical region
Shoulder
Maitland Joint Mobilization
Glenohumeral Posterior Glide
Technique-specificPainful shoulder stiffness
Read the clinical guideKaltenborn–Evjenth Mobilization
Glenohumeral Traction
Technique-specificCompression-sensitive shoulder pain
Read the clinical guideMulligan Mobilization With Movement
Shoulder Elevation MWM
Technique-specificPainful shoulder elevation with an immediate correctable sign
Read the clinical guideMyofascial Release (Direct & Indirect)
Pectoral / Anterior Shoulder MFR
Technique-specificAnterior chest/pectoral tightness limiting comfortable shoulder elevation
Read the clinical guidePNF Manual Techniques
Upper-Limb D1 Flexion Pattern
Technique-specificNeurological and orthopedic rehabilitation for coordinated reach/hand-to-mouth type pattern
Read the clinical guideSoft-Tissue Mobilization
Posterior Cuff / Periscapular Soft-Tissue Mobilization
Technique-specificPosterior shoulder muscle tenderness/guarding as an adjunct to active rehabilitation
Read the clinical guideManual Lymphatic Drainage
Upper-Limb MLD Principles After Breast-Cancer Treatment
Technique-specificSelected upper-limb lymphedema after appropriate medical assessment
Read the clinical guideStrain Counterstrain
Upper Trapezius — Shoulder Girdle Position of Ease
Technique-specificA patient points to a tender superior shoulder after a long laptop session. Moving the head or lowering a tense shoulder reproduces their familiar ache.
Read the clinical guideTrigger Point Compression
Infraspinatus Region — Gentle Trigger Point Compression
Technique-specificA swimmer says reaching across the body feels sore, and gentle palpation of the posterior scapular region reproduces a familiar local discomfort. A tender spot is a clue, not the diagnosis.
Read the clinical guideMuscle Energy Technique
Shoulder Rotation MET — Gentle Isometric Trial
Technique-specificA patient tries to rotate the shoulder outward to put on a jacket. The arm stops at a comfortable limit; you check whether the problem is irritability, weakness, capsular restriction or another source.
Read the clinical guideClinical region
Elbow
Mulligan Mobilization With Movement
Lateral Elbow MWM
Technique-specificLateral elbow pain with painful grip and immediate improvement during glide
Read the clinical guideInstrument-Assisted Soft-Tissue Mobilization (IASTM)
IASTM for Forearm Extensors
Technique-specificAdjunct in lateral elbow/forearm pain when short-term symptom reduction helps exercise
Read the clinical guideCyriax Deep Transverse Friction
Transverse Friction for Common Extensor Tendon Region
Technique-specificSelected lateral elbow tendinopathy as a short-term adjunct to loading
Read the clinical guideActive Soft-Tissue Release
Active Release-Style Forearm Extensor Technique
Technique-specificForearm extensor stiffness/pain where active tissue excursion improves symptoms
Read the clinical guideClinical region
Wrist & Hand
Maitland Joint Mobilization
Radiocarpal AP / PA Glide
Technique-specificWrist stiffness after healed injury/immobilization
Read the clinical guideMulligan Mobilization With Movement
Wrist MWM With Active Flexion / Extension
Technique-specificPainful wrist movement with an immediate correctable sign
Read the clinical guideClinical region
Hip & Pelvis
Kaltenborn–Evjenth Mobilization
Hip Long-Axis / Lateral Traction
Technique-specificHip OA pain/stiffness
Read the clinical guideMuscle Energy Technique (MET)
Hamstring MET
Technique-specificHamstring flexibility limitation without acute tear
Read the clinical guideInstrument-Assisted Soft-Tissue Mobilization (IASTM)
IASTM for Hamstring Region
Technique-specificAdjunct for chronic hamstring-related stiffness/pain after acute injury phase
Read the clinical guidePNF Manual Techniques
Lower-Limb D1 Flexion Pattern
Technique-specificGait/neurological rehab for coordinated hip flexion-adduction-external rotation pattern
Read the clinical guideMulligan Mobilization With Movement
Hip Lateral Glide With Active Flexion — MWM Trial
Technique-specificA patient says bringing the knee toward the chest is uncomfortable and a squat feels restricted. You establish a safe, reproducible hip-flexion comparable sign.
Read the clinical guideClinical region
Knee
Maitland Joint Mobilization
Tibiofemoral AP / PA Mobilization
Technique-specificPainful knee stiffness
Read the clinical guideKaltenborn–Evjenth Mobilization
Tibiofemoral Traction
Technique-specificPainful OA
Read the clinical guideMulligan Mobilization With Movement
Knee MWM During Squat / Step
Technique-specificPainful squat/step in OA or mechanical knee pain when a corrective glide reduces symptoms
Read the clinical guideScar Mobilization
Healed Knee Scar Mobilization
Technique-specificHealed postoperative scar limiting skin glide or knee movement
Read the clinical guideClinical region
Ankle & Foot
Maitland Joint Mobilization
Talocrural Posterior Talar Glide
Technique-specificLimited dorsiflexion after healed ankle sprain
Read the clinical guideKaltenborn–Evjenth Mobilization
Talocrural Traction
Technique-specificAnkle pain with compression
Read the clinical guideMulligan Mobilization With Movement
Weight-Bearing Ankle Dorsiflexion MWM
Technique-specificLimited weight-bearing dorsiflexion after healed ankle injury
Read the clinical guideMyofascial Release (Direct & Indirect)
Calf / Posterior Leg MFR
Technique-specificCalf myofascial discomfort
Read the clinical guideInstrument-Assisted Soft-Tissue Mobilization (IASTM)
IASTM for Calf
Technique-specificCalf stiffness/myofascial discomfort as adjunct before mobility/loading
Read the clinical guideActive Soft-Tissue Release
Active Release-Style Calf Technique
Technique-specificCalf stiffness/pain as adjunct to dorsiflexion/loading
Read the clinical guideSoft Tissue Mobilization
Gastrocnemius–Soleus Soft-Tissue Mobilization
Technique-specificA walker reports calf tightness descending steps. Ask what happens during ankle dorsiflexion and stair movement before assuming that the muscle is physically shortened.
Read the clinical guideClinical region
Upper Limb Neural
Neurodynamic Mobilization
Median Nerve Slider
Technique-specificMedian-nerve mechanosensitivity
Read the clinical guideNeurodynamic Mobilization
Ulnar Nerve Slider
Technique-specificUlnar nerve mechanosensitivity/cubital tunnel-related symptoms after screening
Read the clinical guideNeurodynamic Mobilization
Radial Nerve Slider
Technique-specificRadial nerve mechanosensitivity
Read the clinical guideClinical region