Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy can as well be referred to as physical therapy. It’s an essential treatment aiming to restore movements and standard functionality of patients with chronic health conditions, injury, or disability. This is achievable through physical methods like exercises, manipulation, massages, and other treatment forms other than surgeries and medication. 

Physiotherapists are the health professionals trained to provide comprehensive physiotherapy treatment. They are determined to help people with physical issues that arise following an illness, injury, or aging. They also aim at improving the quality of life of the patients through a range of treatment options. 

Categories of Physiotherapy 

There are several physiotherapy subspecialties dealing with various areas of the body. They include the following; 

Neurological physiotherapy: 

Neurological health conditions are associated with the nervous system. They usually result in loss of body balance and coordination, weak muscles, loss of some bodily functions, muscle spasms, reduced sensation, and tremors. However, neurological physiotherapy is designed to help patients with such related problems. It focuses on establishing a movement and healing functional conditions that begin in the nervous system and neuromuscular system. These conditions include; 

• Multiple sclerosis 
• Parkinson’s disease
• Sciatica, aneurysm
• Spinal cord injuries
• Stroke 
• Traumatic brain injuries 

Pediatric physiotherapy:

Pediatric physiotherapy is designed to help children through a range of therapeutic exercises. These exercises strengthen the altered parts of the body, hence enhancing the overall function and movement. In general, pediatric physiotherapy aims at addressing the following; 

• Defects present at birth
• Minor injuries
• Delayed physical growth
• Genetic or hereditary defects, including cerebral palsy, a disorder that limits mobility and coordination

Musculoskeletal or orthopedic physiotherapy:

Orthopedic physiotherapy helps treat and repair a range of injuries and deformities associated with the musculoskeletal system. It can include the joints, bones, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. This field generally focuses on increasing mobilization, relieving pain, and correcting severe skeletal injuries. 

Geriatric physiotherapy: 

Geriatric physiotherapy specializes in age-related health conditions, including osteoporosis, brittle and fragile bones, and arthritis (joint pain). It aims at guiding the older patients regarding limiting some movement that can intensify the pain. This is achievable through various exercises and effective treatment forms.

Cardiopulmonary physiotherapy:

Cardiopulmonary physiotherapy is designed to help patients with cardiopulmonary health conditions. It includes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cardiac arrest. The therapists who specialize in providing cardiopulmonary physiotherapy treatment educate the patients regarding various types of exercises. They also offer resistant training methods to help enhance their overall quality of life. 

Women physiotherapy: 

Women or female physiotherapy is associated with the female reproductive system, functions, and related health problems. It helps with the child delivery process and provides essential prenatal and postnatal care whenever necessary. Moreover, it deals with fertility problems affecting women. 

Physiotherapy for women also helps in; 

• Relieving pain in the lower back, hip, and pelvic during and after pregnancy 
• Managing lymphatic swelling 
• Activating the pelvic floor 
• Controlling urinary incontinence 
• Strengthening core  

Types of Treatment in Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is designed to suit every patient’s requirements and overall goals. The main types of treatment that physiotherapists use when administering physiotherapy include; 

• Physical exercise 

Physical exercise is the major aspect of therapy and an effective way of addressing various health conditions. At times, it can be generic to advise patients to do more exercises such as walking. It can also be to engage in certain activities, including swimming. However, these exercises depend on the condition that the patient has. Hence, it can include exercises to strengthen some parts of the body or enhance joint flexibility. 

• Range of motion (ROM) exercises 

Some health conditions usually require enough rest to facilitate a successful recovery. These conditions include surgeries and severe bone fractures. However, prolonged rests can sometimes result in mobility issues and interfere with the healing process. 

Due to this, physiotherapists usually recommend a range of motion exercises. This is to help with movement, promote joint functions, and aid circulation. Moreover, regular movement of the impaired muscles and joints helps thwart muscle atrophy and other postural issues. Therapists also use ROM exercises to enable individuals with restricted movement to enhance flexibility and operate independently. 

Examples of ROM exercises that therapists often apply include; 

• Active Assistive Range of Motion (AAROM) exercises
• Active Range of Motion (AROM) exercises.
• Passive Range of Motion (PROM) exercises

• Electrotherapy 

This is a modern type of technique associated with energy-based physical therapy. Therapists use this treatment form to provide electric stimulating by fixing electrodes on the patient’s skin. These electrodes make the muscles shorten and eventually hinder atrophy. 

Physiotherapists mostly recommend electrotherapy treatment to individuals with paralysis or a highly impaired range of motion. Sometimes, it can be used together with ultrasound therapy and laser technique. 

• Hydrotherapy 

This treatment form uses water to address arthritis conditions. It involves performing some specialized exercises while in the water at a temperature ranging from 33 to 36 degrees. It’s usually done with the help of physiotherapists and can include aerobics, strengthening, and stretching exercises. 

• Therapeutic ultrasound 

Typically, ultrasound is not related to physical therapy. However, medical experts have recently discovered that sound waves can help cure injuries within the body. This is because ultrasound frequency is a gentle procedure that targets damaged tissues using soft beams. 

Therapeutic ultrasound is similar to gentle massage since the sound waves stimulate the body. Besides, the ligaments, fascia, and tendons absorb them. This treatment option is suitable for patients with arthritis, muscle strain, and tendonitis. 

• Strengthening programs 

At times, physiotherapists can carry out specialized programs. The aim of this is to help educate patients regarding their responsibilities on overall health and physical conditioning. These programs are designed to help patients enhance their overall body balance, coordination, flexibility, and strength. 

• Physiotherapy taping 

Physiotherapy taping aims at promoting the natural recovery process in patients with chronic health issues. It involves the use of tape to lift the skin further from the connective tissue. This creates space and enables the lymphatic fluid to flow efficiently. 

Overall Benefits of Physiotherapy 

Physiotherapy comes with positive impacts on the patients suffering from chronic health conditions. Some of these primary benefits include; 

• Ease or eliminate pain 

Physiotherapy is the best way of relieving and eliminating both acute and chronic pain. Manual therapy procedures and exercises, including joint and soft tissue mobilization, can help with this. Treatment options such as electric stimulation, taping, and ultrasound helps ease the pain. It also restores the standard functionality of the affected joints and muscles. In addition, these therapeutic activities can help prevent pain from recurring in the future. 

• Improve movement 

Regardless of age, physical therapy is suitable for all patients experiencing difficulties walking, standing, or moving around. Physical exercises, such as strengthening and stretching, can help restore movement ability. To achieve this, therapists provide supportive devices such as crutches and canes. They also modify every patient’s care plan, including the essential activities that impact their life. They thus help them practice to ensure effective performance as well as safety. 

• Helps avoid surgical operation 

Sometimes, the doctor can recommend surgery as an effective way of eliminating or reducing severe pain. However, physiotherapy can help ease such pain and make the recovery process quick. With this, a surgical procedure won’t be necessary. But in case the surgery is still needed due to underlying issues, you will benefit from pre-surgical physiotherapy. Besides, undergoing an operation while strong and in good shape enables you to recover faster after the procedure. 

• Improve overall body balance

Before providing therapeutic services, the therapists normally screen the patients for overall body balance and fall risks. Therefore, if you are at risk of falls, the therapists will work with you to prevent such incidents. They will guide you through exercises that cautiously and securely challenge the body's balance. This is to help mimic and adapt to real-life circumstances. These exercises will also help enhance coordination, and supportive devices may be used to ensure safe movement. 

Sometimes, body balance problem is associated with vestibular system issues. In such cases, the physiotherapists can conduct certain exercises to help restore normal vestibular functions. This can also eliminate or ease symptoms of vertigo (dizziness). 

• It helps you recover from a stroke. 

Most patients suffering from stroke often lose a certain degree of mobility and functionality after recovering. Physiotherapy can thus help reinforce the weak areas and enhance overall body balance, including gait. Furthermore, it enables stroke patients to move or turn in bed; hence they can be independent once they return home. This also eases the burden of care and assistance in taking a shower, dressing, and performing other essential activities. 

Conclusion 

Physiotherapy is a common form of treatment that focuses on restoring various impaired body functions and mobility. Doctors often recommend this treatment option to patients who have been severely injured or suffered a chronic health condition. It involves physical exercises, manipulation, and other treatment forms, excluding medication and operation. 

CloudHospital is determined to helping all patients with impaired functions and movement caused by a disability or certain diseases. It works with a number of healthcare providers and physiotherapists who are trained to provide comprehensive physiotherapy treatment. Furthermore, they work to ensure that every patient achieves what they desire.