Physiotherapy, also known as physical therapy in the past, serves to treat and prevent a wide variety of complaints, injuries and illnesses. Different active and passive techniques and procedures are used. Read everything you need to know about physical therapy: how it works, when to use it and what are the risks. You will have a lot of this information in this article.
Physiotherapy treats limitations in the body’s ability to move and function and is a medically prescribed remedy. It is a useful supplement and sometimes an alternative to surgery or medication. Physiotherapy includes physiotherapy exercises, physical measures, massages and manual lymphatic drainage.
Physiotherapy can be carried out on an inpatient basis (in a hospital, rehabilitation centre, etc.) or on an outpatient basis (in a physiotherapy practice). There is also mobile physiotherapy. The physiotherapist comes to the patient. This has the advantage that the patient can practice certain movement sequences in their familiar surroundings. Mobile physiotherapy is also useful for patients whose illness or physical limitations make it difficult or even impossible to visit a practice.
A special variant is the extended outpatient physiotherapy: In addition to general physiotherapeutic care, it includes medical advanced training that restores the patient’s ability to perform both privately and professionally.
Special directions or methods of physiotherapy are, for example:
Sports physiotherapy is primarily aimed at the care and training of athletes and the prevention and treatment of sports injuries. Important components include warming up, stretching, the correct implementation of physiotherapy or physiotherapy exercises and, if necessary, the treatment of injuries caused by the sport.
Physiotherapy according to Bobath helps people with neurological dysfunctions (caused by the brain and nerves): the patients train and repeat certain movement sequences until new nerve fibers and synapses have formed. The method is used primarily after a stroke or in the case of congenital movement disorders.
In physiotherapy according to Vojta, the physiotherapist triggers reflexes with targeted pressure. The combination of several reflexes from certain starting positions should activate the muscle function.
With the help of Schroth physiotherapy, one tries to stop the deformation of the spine in scoliosis by strengthening and stretching the muscles and promoting a conscious upright posture.
Device-supported physiotherapy aims to improve muscle strength and endurance, mobility and coordination, especially in the case of orthopedic complaints, with the help of training equipment and traction apparatus. Frequently used devices include bicycle ergometers, classic strength training devices and cable pulls.
CMD stands for craniomandibular dysfunction and describes a disorder of the chewing function, which can lead to a wide variety of symptoms such as headaches, back and jaw pain, tension, tinnitus or grinding teeth. The most common cause is a jaw misalignment, which can be treated with special CMD physiotherapy.
Respiratory therapy refers to techniques that make it easier for the patient to breathe. It is prescribed, for example, to patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Back training strengthens the strength and mobility of the back and strengthens the back muscles. With the help of various back exercises, incorrect posture and back pain can be avoided or reduced.
In the back school you learn what keeps your back healthy. The course program consists of various modules, for example knowledge of back-friendly posture and movement behavior, relaxation techniques and training in body awareness. The goal is to prevent or relieve back pain.
The goals of physiotherapy are primarily determined by the patient and their clinical picture. Basically, it is about relieving pain, promoting metabolism and blood circulation and improving or maintaining mobility, coordination, strength and endurance. In addition to the age and condition of the patient, physiotherapy should also take into account everyday living conditions. The course of the disease also plays an important role.
In orthopaedics in particular, the means of physiotherapy are used for diseases of the spine and extremities as well as after injuries and operations. These include broken bones, rheumatism, scoliosis, herniated discs and congenital malpositions and malformations such as clubfoot. The treatment of sports injuries can also benefit from physiotherapeutic measures.
A wide spectrum of neurological diseases makes use of the treatment options of physiotherapy. This applies, for example, to paralysis, movement and functional disorders after skull and spinal cord injuries, damage to the central nervous system (CNS) at birth, paraplegic syndromes and multiple sclerosis. With the help of physiotherapeutic measures, the interaction between the sensory and motor functions of the patients is trained.
In the case of diseases such as asthma, pulmonary fibrosis or cystic fibrosis, training effective breathing and special coughing techniques can alleviate the symptoms and thus improve the quality of life. If the blood vessels or the lymphatic system are constricted, regular walking training improves blood circulation and endurance and at the same time reduces pain. Disorders of the bowel function such as Crohn’s disease can also be treated with physiotherapy.
Physiotherapy is prescribed by a doctor as a remedy according to the catalog of remedies, similar to medication. Depending on the type and severity of the clinical picture, the type and number of treatments is determined.
The first visit to the physiotherapist usually consists of the anamnesis – the collection of the history of the disease in a conversation – and a thorough examination, during which, among other things, the strength of the muscles and mobility are checked and pain is precisely localized. Based on the information from the conversation and the examination, the physiotherapist then creates a physiotherapeutic therapy plan and discusses the individual goals with the patient.
Depending on the therapy plan, active, assisted and passive exercises are carried out at regular intervals. In passive physiotherapy exercises, the physiotherapist moves the patient’s joints without the patient working with their muscles. This improves mobility and promotes blood circulation. At the same time, contractures and stiffening are avoided.
In the case of assistive physiotherapy exercises, the patient must exert muscle power himself. However, the movements are supported by the physiotherapist or special physiotherapy equipment. If the training takes place in the water, the buoyancy is used as an assisting force.
The patient performs active physiotherapy exercises without assistance. It is corrected and checked by the physiotherapist. This also includes resistive physiotherapy exercises that involve working against muscle power, equipment or water resistance. As far as possible, the patient should also do the exercises at home and integrate them into everyday life.
Properly performed, physiotherapy poses few risks. However, if the exercises are performed improperly or incorrectly, bruising, inflammation or other injuries can occur. Exercises that serve to coordinate and treat dizziness are associated with an increased risk of falling.
You should also practice independently at home. These speeds up the healing process.
The increased strain on individual muscle groups can cause sore muscles, but this is not dangerous. Exhaustion and tiredness are also symptoms that can result from the increased physical work. If pain or injuries occur after physiotherapy, it is advisable to consult a doctor.
Today, the difference between physiotherapists and physical therapists is unfortunately unknown among the public. For this reason, people receive the wrong treatment and experience a very difficult recovery process. In fact, sometimes people do not get better at all and may become much worse. For this reason, the difference between physiotherapy and physical therapy should be well known.
The main purpose of physiotherapists and physiotherapists is to treat the person and return to normal life in a short time. For this reason, they both deal with people in the field of health. In this way, people who receive these treatments recover in a short time and have a much better body structure. However, the points where the physiotherapist and physical therapist differ are as follows:
Physiotherapists help us with injuries, dislocations, fractures and illnesses that often happen to us. If you have an inherited skeletal problem or a bone structure disorder, physiotherapists will help you in such cases. These aids are generally in the form of exercises. The exercises you will do will completely change and take shape according to your disease and discomfort. The same treatment is not applied for your neck discomfort and your leg discomfort.
Physiotherapists get information from physical therapists for such exercises. They also sometimes make the decisions for such exercises themselves. After the exercise decisions taken, the application begins. As you complete the applications, you will realize that you are relieved and your aches and pains are gone. Physiotherapy provides you with excellent relaxation. It is generally used in the elderly and helps to improve body structure and feel good.
Do not forget to contact us in the areas of physios near me and physio therapy Surrey. We offer you the best treatment at the best prices. You can consult us for many of your diseases. We are always at your service.
