What is physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy, as defined by Wikipedia, is using physical techniques, such as massage, heat treatment, and exercise, in place of medication or surgery, to treat illness, injury, or deformity.
These treatments are done by a physiotherapist. A physiotherapist is a medical practitioner who uses movement and exercise to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness and disability. They are experts on the functioning and movement of the body.
Who needs physiotherapy?
You will need a physiotherapist if you:
Are considering physiotherapy. If you feel physiotherapy can help alleviate what made you consider it in the first place, then it can!
Are struggling with balance. Loss of balance could mean an illness or an injury. It could also mean something is wrong with your inner ear (Vestibular system). Visiting a physiotherapist will help you recover your balance by undertaking a vestibular treatment or any other treatment option that they may advise.
Are struggling with daily tasks and, you find common movements suddenly harder to do
Have a chronic injury that affects how you maneuver your day-to-day
What issues do physical therapists address?
- The goals of physical therapists are prevention and rehabilitation. Treatment is available for issues brought on by illnesses, disabilities, or injuries. These are a few instances:
- Back and neck pain brought on by skeletal and muscular issues
- bone, joint, muscle, and ligament issues, including arthritis and amputation aftereffects
- respiratory issues, like asthma
- Incapacity due to cardiovascular issues
- Pelvic disorders, such as postpartum bowel and bladder difficulties
- Immobility brought on by disorders such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease, or by trauma to the brain or spine
- Experiencing exhaustion, discomfort, edema, rigidity, and a reduction in muscle mass, particularly during cancer therapy or hospice care
When should I go see a physiotherapist?
- You should go see a physiotherapist if you are in constant pain. This pain could also be a result of an injury. While recovering you should not experience pain you can’t explain the cause.
- Repetitive injuries that might be caused by overtraining. Repetitive injuries might be caused by poor biomechanics, predisposition, poor lifting, or inadequate rest.
- When experiencing pain in new areas as you plant of a new event. Experiencing pain in new areas may be a result of emotional pain.
A parent or Guardian should take their child to a child physiotherapist when:
- The child is not able to achieve their motor milestones e.g. learning to sit, walk, crawl, jump, hop, etc.
- If the child is using unusual patterns to move e.g. toe walking, bottom shuffling, etc.
- Clumsy or uncoordinated toddlers and babies.
- Children with disabilities such as Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Brain Injury, Muscular dystrophy, Autism, or other conditions.
- Children with chronic respiratory conditions such as Cystic Fibrosis, bronchiectasis, etc.
- Children who have rheumatological and pain conditions for example arthritis, myositis, or chronic pain.
- Babies that are born with conditions affecting their bones, joints, or muscles.
What to expect at Physiotherapy
- Your physiotherapist should take a case history and conduct a thorough assessment. This may include discussing your medical history, your pain levels, your physical abilities, and the specific circumstances of the injury or ailment.
- Your physiotherapist may perform a physical examination to evaluate your range of motion, posture, and physical capacity. Your strength, balance, flexibility, joint mobility, and other pertinent physical attributes may be tested as part of this. Their understanding of your physical function and limitations is enhanced by this evaluation. To better understand the biomechanics behind your issue, we might attempt to simulate your pain. We might wish to give your muscles and joints a feel. You might be subjected to additional testing, which often entails extending a joint’s range of motion. This assists us in developing a diagnosis.
- The physiatrist will diagnose and treat you. They may also offer a home exercise plan.
Physiotherapy plays a crucial role in helping people with developmental delays unlock their full potential. It’s therefore important that they get the special care they need.
Here are the Top physiotherapy centers near you.
You can also look into Affordable therapies for 500 or less
Early intervention in physiotherapy emphasizes the importance of addressing physical issues as soon as they arise, aiming to prevent their progression and minimize their impact on an individual’s health and well-being. By promptly identifying and treating issues through personalized interventions tailored to the individual’s needs, early intervention in physiotherapy can significantly enhance outcomes. Whether it is managing musculoskeletal conditions, addressing developmental delays, or preventing injuries, physiotherapists play a crucial role in promoting early intervention strategies.
