According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT) orthopaedic manual physical therapy is defined as: "an advanced specialty area of physical therapy practice that is based on manual examination and treatment techniques integrated with exercise, patient education, and other physical therapy modalities to address pain, loss of function, and wellness. Early, consistent, and skillful manual physical therapy, combined with exercise and patient education can be a useful tool to aid in recovery. Additionally, specialized options for the management of many conditions are based on clinical reasoning, using highly specific treatment approaches can include manual techniques and therapeutic exercises. Manual therapy also encompasses, and is driven by, the available scientific and clinical evidence and the biopsychosocial framework of each individual patient.