Physical therapy unlike what some might believe is not catered exclusively to serious athletes. Read on to find out if you too can benefit from physical therapy.

Do You Need Physiotherapy?

There are a few injuries that will not benefit from physiotherapy care. However, the most common types of clinical problems that will benefit from it can be grouped as follows:

ACUTE ILLNESS

This is often found among Pre and Post-Surgery patients, athletes suffering from sports injuries and patient occupational injuries.

CHRONIC ILLNESS

This includes patients with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lower back pain, neck pain, vestibular dysfunction, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, frozen shoulder and scoliosis.

LONG-TERM CARE

This category speaks of serious injury where lifetime care is needed. This includes stroke patients, Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) patients, Cerebral Palsy and problems faced by an ageing population.

PREVENTATIVE TREATMENT OR FITNESS EXERCISES

Programmes are designed for patients who are obese, have high risk of hypertension, diabetes, functional limitation due to ageing, poor posture and other causative factors.

The World of Physiotherapy Treatments

Physiotherapists use what is known as the "3M" to reach a patient's goal towards recovery.

MOVEMENT

Also known as therapeutic exercises, this includes stretching, strengthening, balancing, gym ball exercises, and core strengthening. Therapeutic exercise programmes designed by physiotherapist are individualised to the unique needs of each patient or client.

MANUAL

Hands-on treatment, such as joint mobilization, myofascial release, deep friction massage, lymphomassage and passive range of motion exercises.

MODALITIES

Equipment to relieve symptoms or improve the healing process such as heat, cold, paraffin, electrical modalities (e.g. Interferential current, Russian current and others), ultrasound, shockwave and traction equipment, etc.

Bid Farewell to Pain

Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to "just live with it" when it comes to aches and pains. You can regain your freedom in movement with the proper treatment. The most important thing is to recognise the type of pain you are suffering from an get appropriate treatment. There are also things you can do at home to elevate the pain.

CHRONIC PAIN

Chronic pain is pain that persists beyond the expected recovery time (3 to 6 months).

Symptoms

• It only hurts when excessive stress is placed on the vulnerable tissues in repetitive or sustained motion for prolonged periods.
• Poor neuromuscular control and endurance in high intensity or destabilised situations.
• Flexibility and strength imbalances.
• Generalised reconditioning.
• Inability to perform high intensity physical demands for extended periods of time.

Physiotherapy Treatment Physiotherapy Options Available For Chronic Pain:

Heat Therapy Such as water bottle, hot pack or warm moist towel

Ultrasound - Using Sound Vibration,

Ultrasound treatment will penetrate the tissues deep in the body, creating a heat response. These vibrations and heat will help break down and disperse unhealthy calcium and other hard tissue accumulation. Ultrasound also helps to increase blood flow, relax muscle spasm, massage damaged tissues and speed the healing process.

Electrical Modalities Such as T.E.N.S (Transcuntaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) and I.F.C(Interferential Current) are therapeutic treatments which aid in the relief of pain and the promotion of soft tissue healing. Using electrical impulses to help the body secretes endorphins and other natural painkillers to help relieve pain.

Therapeutic Exercise For prevention of muscle wasting and muscle tightness after injuries. These exercises strengthen weakened muscle or injured muscle groups that support the joint, help stabilise joints, and also prevent recurrent injury

Home Treatment

Heat or ice pack treatment

BENEFITS OF HEAT THERAPY

• Increases the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the muscles, helping to heal the tissue damage.
• Helps to stretch soft tissues, including muscle and connective tissue.
• Decrease stiffness, with an increase in flexibility and overall feeling of comfort.

Flexibility is very important for a healthy Body.

Contraindication

Don't apply to acute, recent, swollen, inflamed or bruised areas.

BENEFITS OF ICE THERAPY

• Limits internal bleeding.
• Ice reduces the swelling, tissue damage, inflammation, muscle spasm and pain.
• Alternate heat and ice increases the flow of nutrients into the area. Aids in removing toxins. Increases healing process.

Contraindication

Don't use ice if you have the following - Rheumatoid Arthritis, Raynoud's Syndrome, cold allergic conditions, paralysed areas or impaired sensation.

Physical Therapy Decoded

Physiotherapy is a health care profession which provides services to many individuals to develop maintain and restore maximum movement and functional ability throughout their lifespan. It includes providing services in circumstances where movement and function are threatened by ageing, injury, disease or environmental factors. To achieve this goal, physical agents such as exercise, heat, cold, light, sound, electro-therapy and massage are utilized.

There are basically four main areas where physiotherapy is applied:

• Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy
• Neurological Physiotherapy
• Paediatric Physiotherapy
• Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapy

How Physical Therapy Can Help

Faster Remediation Physiotherapist uses modalities such as IFC (Interferential Current) to relieve acute pain.

No Side Effects Physiotherapy uses physical agents where there are no side effects to the therapy.

Physical therapy strengthens the body's function and aims to prevent impairment.