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Pain & rehab · 도수치료

Manual Therapy (Dosu Chiryo) in Gangnam

One-on-one hands-on treatment by a physical therapist for neck, back and joint pain. Medical sessions have a fixed KRW 43,850 price since July 2026.

Quick facts
  • Korean name: 도수치료
  • Procedure time: 30 to 50 minutes per session
  • Anesthesia: None
  • Sessions: Commonly 4 to 10 sessions, 1 to 2 per week
  • Downtime: None; mild soreness for a day
  • Results: Many people notice less pain within 2 to 4 sessions
  • Lasts: Depends on keeping up home exercise and posture changes
  • Typical price: ₩43,850–₩43,850 (per medically indicated 30-minute session (national managed-benefit price from July 2026; posture or fatigue sessions priced by clinic))

What is Manual Therapy (Dosu Chiryo)?

Dosu chiryo is Korea's term for manual therapy: a physical therapist uses joint mobilization, soft tissue release and guided exercise for musculoskeletal pain. It is one of the most common treatments at Gangnam orthopedic and rehabilitation clinics.

From 1 July 2026 the government moved medically indicated manual therapy into a managed-benefit category with one national price, so the cost is now predictable.

How it works

A doctor examines you first and may order an X-ray or ultrasound. Each session is one-on-one with a physical therapist for at least 30 minutes, combining mobilization of stiff joints, myofascial release, muscle energy techniques and home exercises. Many clinics pair it with heat, TENS or shockwave.

Under the 2026 rules, insured sessions are capped at 2 per week and 15 per year (up to 24 with a doctor's justification). Sessions for general fatigue or posture correction are outside the scheme and priced freely by the clinic.

Who it suits

  • Neck and lower back pain without serious nerve compression
  • Stiff shoulders, including early frozen shoulder
  • Pain after a sprain or minor sports injury
  • Office workers with recurring tension-type neck and upper back pain

Who should skip it or wait

  • Fractures, tumors or spinal infection
  • Progressive weakness, numbness in the groin area or bladder changes (go to an emergency room)
  • Severe osteoporosis where forceful mobilization is unsafe

Side effects and risks

  • Temporary soreness or bruising
  • Flare of pain after aggressive mobilization
  • Rare nerve or vascular injury with neck manipulation

Aftercare

  • Do the home exercises the therapist sets
  • Use heat or ice as advised for soreness
  • Avoid heavy lifting on the day of treatment
  • Tell the therapist about any numbness or tingling

Planning around your trip

If you are only in Seoul briefly, ask for a written exercise plan with photos so you can continue at home.

Rehabilitation & Manual Therapy clinics near Apgujeong

  • Dasom Pain Clinic (다솜마취통증의학과의원)
    Rehabilitation, 6 min walk from Sinsa Station
  • Seyeon Pain Clinic (세연마취통증의학과의원)
    Rehabilitation, 1 min walk from Sinsa Station

Last reviewed October 2026. General information only, not medical advice. A doctor confirms what suits you at consultation.

Manual Therapy (Dosu Chiryo) price in Apgujeong

₩43,850–₩43,850
per medically indicated 30-minute session (national managed-benefit price from July 2026; posture or fatigue sessions priced by clinic)

Typical range at clinics around Apgujeong, Sinsa and Cheongdam, checked 2026-10. Source: Money Today, 1 July 2026 (Ministry of Health and Welfare managed-benefit price). Cosmetic treatments in Korea carry 10% VAT; ask whether a quote includes it.

Full Manual Therapy (Dosu Chiryo) price breakdown →

Manual Therapy (Dosu Chiryo) questions

Why is every clinic now charging KRW 43,850 for manual therapy?

Since 1 July 2026, medically indicated manual therapy is a managed-benefit item with one national price. Patients pay 95% of it. Before that, clinics set their own prices and the average was about KRW 110,000.

Do tourists pay the same price?

The managed-benefit price applies to the medical service itself. Visitors without Korean insurance usually pay the full amount, so ask the clinic how they bill uninsured foreigners.

What if I want sessions for posture correction?

Posture correction and fatigue relief are excluded from the managed scheme. Clinics price these freely and they cannot be claimed on Korean private insurance.

How many sessions can I have in a year?

For insured medical manual therapy, up to 2 per week and 15 per year, extended to 24 if a doctor documents joint stiffness or similar. Extra sessions cannot be billed under the scheme.

Is dosu chiryo the same as chiropractic?

No. It is performed by licensed physical therapists under a medical doctor, mostly with mobilization and soft tissue work rather than high-velocity spinal thrusts.

Can I combine it with shockwave therapy on the same visit?

Yes. Many clinics book shockwave right before or after manual therapy for tendon problems like plantar fasciitis or tennis elbow.

Plan your visit

Get a quote before you fly

Send the treatment, your dates and any past procedures. We reply in English with options, prices and clinic locations near Apgujeong Station.