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Physiotherapy/physical therapy includes but is not limited to pain management. It, in fact, plays a key role in the overall health of individuals of all ages. From heart and lung diseases to brain injury, it can help in a wide range of conditions. So, is it a wise alternative pain meds? Can you trust it with chronic conditions like arthritis or diabetes? Let’s find out.
It’s an evidence-based healthcare practice that helps restore an individual’s physical, psychological and social well-being. It improves a gamut of conditions that affect neurological, neuromuscular, cardiovascular and respiratory systems. But, unlike pain meds or surgeries, it has no side effects since the treatments boost the natural healing process of your body. You get engaged in your recovery throughout the treatment sessions.
The core of the profession is in movement sciences. It is all about the understanding of how and why the body moves. The combined knowledge of human anatomy, physiology and psychology fuels the effectiveness of this profession.
Also Read: Effective Sleeping Tips to Keep a Check on Lower Back Pain
Professionals registered with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario are only authorized to call themselves physical therapists or physiotherapists. Let’s say you want to book a physiotherapist in Abbotsford, make sure they are registered with the College as mentioned.
With additional training, they may also treat pelvic floor disorders and conduct spinal manipulation or acupuncture to help the patient. They may also order diagnostic tests such as ultrasound or CAT scans to identify the source of your pain.
Now you know the profession focuses on restoring a patient’s optimal physical independence. Whether you got hurt in a workplace accident or you need to prepare for a sports event, physical therapy can help you achieve your goal.
The question is how.
Thermal energy treatment is the application of superficial heat which elevates the temperature in the underlying damaged tissues. The therapist may use three different techniques to provide you with thermotherapy, such as:
The therapist may apply heat pads on the affected area to reduce muscle spasms and pain. This is usually the first line of treatment since it prepares your tendons, joints, scar tissues and muscles for the rest of the sessions.
Chronic conditions often cause pain and swelling. Cold applications reduce this swelling and inflammation, thereby bringing relief.
The physical therapist may provide you with both treatments alternatively within a 15-minute gap, especially in the case of chronic inflammation.
Once the inflammation reduces, it’s time to strengthen the affected muscles and improve their elasticity. So, the physical therapist guides you through specific stretching and strengthening exercises to reduce your pain and restore normal functioning.
There are different exercises for different conditions. You may find relief from back pain, for instance, through back stretches such as supine hamstring stretch, piriformis stretch, etc. It is better to consult with your physical therapist before starting any exercises. Remember, the wrong exercise can worsen the damage if you are not careful.
Strengthening exercises, on the other hand, improve your muscle strength, function and quality of movement. The muscles become stronger and more efficient, thereby reducing the risk of injury.
Manual therapy is a hands-on treatment that treats chronic and acute pain. The therapist uses their hands to apply optimum pressure while moving the affected joints and tissues. This pressure eases muscle tension, relieves pain and restores movement.
It is effective anywhere in the body, especially in the spine, neck, head and jaw.
There are different types of manual therapy techniques such as:
The manual therapist prescribes the techniques to you depending on your symptoms and health goals. The primary goals of these sessions are to reduce pain, improve range of motion, mobilize joints and promote relaxation.
Dry needling and IMS are the most suitable treatments for myofascial and neuropathy pain. Though it involves the insertion of very fine, thin filament needles, the process is not painful. It involves a thorough evaluation of your whole body.
The therapist identifies the affected soft tissues through specific tests. They then insert the needles into those areas, which, in turn, trigger a local twitch response. The natural healing process of your body is activated after every IMS session.
Kinesiology taping involves the application of kinesio tape on the area in your body that hurts. Once the tape is applied to the body, it recoils and lifts the skin slightly. This creates a tiny space between the skin and the tissues underlying it. The space helps the joints mobilize, improves the circulation of fluids and blood and heals injuries.
It is often combined with other forms of treatment for the best outcome. You can also use it to improve mobility and endurance. Athletes are often prescribed to wear kinesio tape to improve their performance the next day.
Physical therapy has proven to be effective in treating a wide range of conditions that cause acute and chronic pain. It has no side effects and embraces a completely holistic approach to treating the problems. It improves your mobility, reduces pain and helps restore an optimal lifestyle.
Legend Physiotherapy is one of the top-rated physiotherapy clinics in Abbotsford. So, if you are in the area and are suffering from pain or mobility issues, call us at
778-880-8823.
Physiotherapy helps restore normal movement in a patient while reducing pain and discomfort. It prevents surgeries and further injuries as well. The main physiotherapy treatments include manual therapies, IMS, exercises, movement therapies, posture correction and more. All the treatments are non-invasive and focus on boosting the natural healing response of your body.
Physical therapy and physiotherapy are often used interchangeably since they both focus on movement and function. They differ on the basis of the approach they take while treating patients. Physical therapy, for instance, uses a hands-on approach while physiotherapy takes a manual approach with a focus on stretches, massages, soft tissue manipulations and fascial releases.
For non-severe pain, you may need two to three sessions to recover. However, this differs based on your health status and goals. The physical therapist assesses your injuries before recommending the number of sessions you need to recover. Also, physiotherapy is a client-centric profession. Thus, the treatments may change based on your progress.
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