Which form of therapy seeks to loosen tightness and minimize pain through pressure and manual manipulation?

• A. Therapeutic Exercise
• B. Adaptive Equipment
• C. Soft Tissue Mobilization
• D. Sports Medicine

Answer: (C)

Loosening tightness and reducing pain through pressure and manual manipulation describes soft tissue mobilization. This hands-on approach targets muscles, fascia, and other soft tissues, using controlled pressure to release tension, improve circulation, reduce muscle guarding, and restore tissue mobility. Techniques like kneading and stretching help break down adhesions and increase tissue extensibility, which together lessen pain and improve range of motion. Therapeutic exercise relies on patient-initiated movements to stretch and strengthen tissues; adaptive equipment involves devices to aid function rather than manual tissue work; and sports medicine is a broad field covering prevention and treatment of sports-related injuries. So soft tissue mobilization best fits the description.