What Is Physiotherapy Treatment? The Ultimate Guide

When most people have a chronic illness or are experiencing pain, they’re usually treated by multiple doctors. But what if there was a way to manage a condition with only one type of treatment? Well, it’s possible with physiotherapy.

For people who prefer alternative methods of healing, physiotherapy is the answer. However, if you don’t know much about it, this guide has you covered.

So, what is physiotherapy treatment? Keep reading to find out.

What Is Physiotherapy Treatment?

Physiotherapy is a technique that helps to promote recovery in injury, illness, or disability. Its goal is to restore movement and functionality to a person’s body.

Physiotherapy treatment allows professionals to run an independent practice where they can make individual treatment decisions and clinical assessments. They have the choice to work independently or with other colleagues within a clinic or hospital. They also work alongside doctors, nurses, and occupational therapists.

The Benefits of Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is effective in treating a variety of ailments. Most of the issues are caused by respiratory, neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular systems of the body. There are multiple physio treatments to help manage each condition.

Musculoskeletal Conditions

Physiotherapists specializing in musculoskeletal conditions treat issues associated with muscles, cartilage, tendons, joints, ligaments, nerves, and bones. Below is an in-depth look at some of the problems physiotherapy aims to fix:

Soft Tissue Injuries: This kind of injury includes knee pain, an ACL tear, carpal tunnel, rotator cuff pain, groin pain, meniscus pain, patellar tendonitis, shin splints, foot pain, and repetitive strain injury.

Spinal Issues: Conditions like osteoporosis, spinal stenosis, neck pain, whiplash, chronic back pain, degenerative disc disease, herniated disc, and sciatica

Rheumatological Problems: Conditions such as arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, gout, fibromyalgia, joint pain, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis.

Pregnancy: Complications from pregnancy like leg pain, pubic symphysis, lower back pain, sacroiliac joint pain, and sciatica.

Rehabilitation: Knee replacement, hip replacement, discectomy, laminectomy, and shoulder operations.

Neurological Conditions

Neurological physio treatments aim to heal nervous system disorders. It helps conditions such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, brain injuries, and Parkinson’s disease. It’s also used to provide rehabilitation after brain surgery.

Cardiothoracic Conditions

Cardiothoracic is a term used to describe respiratory disorders. One of the main benefits of physiotherapy is that it can help to treat almost any condition. It aids with chronic bronchitis, asthma, emphysema, and other cardio-respiratory illnesses.

Physiotherapy Treatment Options

Physio treatments are customized to suit each individual’s needs. A physiotherapist will make assessments to determine what’s needed. Then, a recovery plan is implemented from there.

Sometimes one treatment option is used, and other times there’s a mixture of techniques involved like the following:

Exercise

Exercise is often used as an effective technique in physiotherapy. The therapist examines the patient’s strength, sensibility, balance, and coordination.

Physical activity is used to strengthen muscles, enhance range of motion, and improve balance. It also works well for preventing and managing various chronic disorders.

Hydrotherapy

This technique is used to treat rheumatological, neurological, and orthopedic disorders. The therapy is done in a warm pool that’s body heat temperature.

Under the instruction of a physiotherapist, the patient does exercises in the water. The water offers resistance to joints and muscles with minimal strain because there’s less gravity.

This method improves blood circulation and breathing, relieves pain, strengthens muscles, and enhances joint range.

Manual Therapy

Manual therapy is essential to rehabilitation because, after an injury, the body becomes restricted. Joints make small gliding movements when a person goes through a range of motion.

However, when an individual can’t perform these movements independently, it causes issues. Their internal joint movements become limited and hinder their ability to move freely.

A physiotherapist helps by applying slow, controlled pressure to loosen damaged joints and tissues. On the other hand, when more the body is more rigid, manipulation techniques are used as well. Manipulation consists of pushing movements that force the joints to loosen up.

Soft tissue therapy is also performed to treat scars, heal swollen joints, and reduce swelling post-injury.

Lastly, manual therapy uses of massage techniques to alleviate pain and minimize swelling.

Acupuncture

previously stated, physiotherapists are free to use the treatments they see fit, and acupuncture is one of them. The technique consists of small needles that are inserted throughout the body at certain points. The procedure is effective with soothing pain and inflammation.

Your physiotherapist may also use ultrasounds, traction, and hot or cold compresses during your treatments.

Visiting a Physiotherapist

Unlike some health specialists, a referral isn’t needed to see a physiotherapist. They are independent medical professionals similar to dentists. You can get an appointment directly with them without seeing your primary physician first.

Locating a professional to do physio treatments in your area is relatively easy. To find a local option, you can simply Google physiotherapists in your area.

Is Physiotherapy Treatment Right for You?

What is physiotherapy treatment? From the information provided above, it’s a pretty amazing treatment method. Not only is it non-invasive, but it helps to manage numerous conditions.

If you’re suffering from pain or a chronic illness, physiotherapy could be right for you. With all of its wonderful benefits, it doesn’t hurt to try it.

Did you enjoy reading this article? If so, feel free to read more of our blog. We cover a variety of topics aimed to help you heal physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Our goal is to educate and inspire our readers so they can become the best version of themselves!