Soft tissue mobilization

Hands-on techniques applied to muscle, tendon and fascia rather than to joints.

Manual therapy5 of 9 professions covered

Choose your profession and state in Your lens above, and this page answers for you first.

At a glance

The national picture for each profession. Your state can differ; the section below says how to check.

DC, ChiropractorChiropractor
Within scopeChiropractic laws commonly include massage or treatment of muscle and connective tissue, though narrower laws describe it only in general terms.Updated October 11, 2026
PT, Physical therapistPhysical therapist
Within scopeSoft tissue mobilization and therapeutic massage are named in the model physical therapy act and in state definitions of physical therapy.Updated October 11, 2026
PTA, Physical therapist assistantPhysical therapist assistant
Not yet covered
OT, Occupational therapistOccupational therapist
Within scopeOccupational therapists use soft tissue techniques as part of occupation-focused care; many state laws name manual therapy, and some add training rules.Updated October 11, 2026
OTA, Occupational therapy assistantOccupational therapy assistant
Not yet covered
AT, Athletic trainerAthletic trainer
Within scopeSoft tissue techniques are an entry-level athletic training skill, though at least one state's athletic training law (Nevada) excludes massage of the superficial soft tissues.Updated October 11, 2026
LMT, Massage therapistMassage therapist
Within scopeManual work on muscle, fascia and other soft tissue is the core of massage therapy as state laws define it, and those laws often exempt other licensed professionals working within their own scope.Updated October 11, 2026
CSCS, Strength and conditioning specialistStrength and conditioning specialist
Not yet covered
CPT, Personal trainerPersonal trainer
Not yet covered

What it is

Pressing, kneading, rubbing or stretching muscles and the tissue around them by hand. It covers massage strokes, pressure on tender points, myofascial release and friction across a tendon, and it is used by massage therapists and several other licensed professions.

Names across professions

The same technique can carry different names in different practice acts. The word a statute uses can decide who may perform it.

Names for Soft tissue mobilization across professions
Profession	Term in practice acts	Note
Massage therapist	Massage therapy	Massage laws define it as manual work on soft tissue
Physical therapist	Soft tissue mobilization	Named under manual therapy in the model physical therapy act
Chiropractor	Massage; trigger point therapy	Terms used in some chiropractic laws, such as Washington's
Across professions	Myofascial release	A technique directed at fascia
Across professions	Transverse friction massage	Friction across a tendon, introduced by Cyriax

What the bodies say

Position statements, guidelines and consensus documents that address this topic, current first.

CurrentAPTA · 2023PT

Hip Pain and Movement Dysfunction Associated With Nonarthritic Hip Joint Pain: A Revision

CurrentAPTA · 2022PT

Lateral Elbow Pain and Muscle Function Impairments

CurrentAPTA · 2021PT

Interventions for the management of acute and chronic low back pain: revision 2021

CurrentFSMTB · 2014LMT

Model massage therapy practice act

Check your state

Scope is set by each state's practice act and board rules. The national picture above is a starting point, never the answer for your license.

Find your licensing board

Get licensed links to the board for each profession in each state, so you can read its rules or ask it directly.

Go to Get licensed

Research

Searches that open in the literature databases. We point to the evidence; we do not summarize individual studies.

Terms on this page

Soft tissue mobilization Scope of practice Practice act