Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is the treatment of injury, disease and disorders through physical methods — such as exercise, massage, manipulation and other treatments — over medication and surgery.
Many people may believe that physiotherapists mainly work with back and sports-related injuries, but that’s not always the case. Physiotherapists are highly trained health professionals who provide treatment for people suffering from physical problems arising from injury, disease, illness and ageing.
A physiotherapist’s purpose is to improve a person’s quality of life by using a variety of treatments to alleviate pain and restore function or, in the case of permanent injury or disease, to lessen the effects of any dysfunction.
Types of physiotherapy
Physiotherapy can be an effective treatment for a plethora of conditions, and the following treatments can help lessen the recovery time after a variety of surgeries.
Physiotherapists can specialize in several different areas, including sports medicine, children’s health (pediatrics), and women’s health, and within these parameters, there are three different areas of practice. These are:
Musculoskeletal which is also called orthopaedic physiotherapy and is used to treat conditions such as sprains, back pain, arthritis, strains, incontinence, bursitis, posture problems, sport and workplace injuries, plus reduced mobility. Rehabilitation following surgery is also included within this category.
This is used to treat disorders of the nervous system, including strokes, spinal cord injuries, acquired brain injuries, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. It can also be used for rehabilitation following brain surgery.
Cardiothoracic is the name given to the treatment of used asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema and other cardio-respiratory disorders.
Types of treatment in physiotherapy
Each individual’s treatment is tailored to suit their specific requirements, and a physiotherapist will choose from a wide range of therapies, including:
These can include joint manipulation and mobilisation (which provides for spinal mobilisation), manual resistance training, and stretching.
Such as muscle strengthening, posture re-training, cardiovascular stretching and training.
Consists of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), laser therapy, diathermy, and ultrasound.