Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy can be defined as a treatment method that focuses on the science of movement and helps people to restore, maintain and maximize their physical strength, function, motion and overall well-being by addressing the underlying physical issues.
Dr. Vithal Physiotherapy & Acupressure Centre came into is one of the leading unit of Dr. Vithal Medicare Centre, came into existence in 2018. We have well experienced physiotherapist team & fully equipped machines for benefit of patients. Our physiotherapist team is well experienced in handling all chronic & acute injuries and post operative conditions.
When taking on a new patient, a physiotherapist will take his/her health history and perform a physical examination. He will then develop a treatment plan tailored to the patient’s needs. Some of the treatments that physiotherapists use are as follows:
- Massage to ease soft tissue pain
- Mobilization or manipulation of joints
- Exercises to strengthen weak areas
- Cold to reduce inflammation
- Heat to increase circulation
- Ultrasound therapy to ease muscle spasms
- Electrical stimulation to help muscles contract that cannot do so effectively on their own
Physiotherapists do not just work with people after an injury, but can be found working in many fields of specialty.
Role
Techniques
Role
When should I go see a physiotherapist?
Think about getting physiotherapy if you have an injury, or chronic pain that affects how you function everyday. A doctor may refer you to physiotherapy after surgery such as a hip replacement, or an event such as a heart attack or stroke.
If you are planning to use health insurance to help cover the cost of physiotherapy, remember to visit your insurance company’s website to ensure the physiotherapist is covered. If the physiotherapist is not covered by that insurance company you will not be able to use your benefits and will need to pay the full cost of treatment.
What problems do physiotherapists treat?
Physiotherapists focus on both prevention and rehabilitation. Treatment can be for problems caused by injury, disease or disability. Here are some examples:
- Neck and back pain caused by problems in the muscles and skeleton
- Problems in the bones, joints, muscles and ligaments, such as arthritis and the after-effects of amputation
- Lung problems such as asthma
- Disability as a result of heart problems
- Pelvic issues, such as bladder and bowel problems related to childbirth
- Loss of mobility because of trauma to the brain or spine, or due to diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis
- Fatigue, pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of muscle strength, for example during cancer treatment, or palliative care.
What can I expect at physiotherapy?
Your session will be unique, because it is all about you and your particular needs. In general, here’s what happens:
- The physiotherapist learns about your medical history
- The physiotherapist assesses and diagnoses your condition
- You receive a treatment plan that sets goals for you
- You are prescribed a course of exercises and any assistive devices needed.
Techniques
To achieve its goal, physiotherapy utilizes certain approaches and techniques. Let us understand in detail what these techniques are and how they work.
Manual Therapy
Also known as Mobilization, this refers to using hands to mobilize the affected soft tissues and joints. Physiotherapists exert manual pressure by using their hands to mobilize joints and soft tissues in order to reduce pain that results due to joint stiffness or muscle spasm. Manual therapy is known to be beneficial in treating musculoskeletal conditions like chronic back pain. This manual approach is used for the following reasons: To improve circulation of blood through the body
- To enhance movements of affected body parts
- To enable drainage of fluid from different parts of the body
- To reduce pain and discomfort
Exercises
Therapeutic exercises have a huge part in physiotherapy. Physiotherapists may incorporate exercise in their treatment plan in two ways. Firstly, it can be used during the recovery phase of certain conditions like surgeries and sports injuries that affect the overall mobility of the patient. In such cases, gentle exercises like walking and swimming are recommended. Secondly, specific exercises may be taught in order to strengthen the affected part of the body. For instance, in case of paresis (slight or incomplete paralysis) caused by stroke, a physiotherapist may put together exercises to strengthen the affected limbs.
These therapeutic exercises must be repeated on a regular basis for a specific period of time as advised by your physiotherapist.
Electrotherapy
Electrotherapy is a treatment approach used in physiotherapy that promotes muscle contraction, thereby reducing pain and encouraging healing. It is known as electrotherapy because it uses electric current or impulses to excite the nervous system, which in turn causes muscle contractions.
Electrotherapy can be administered with a number of equipments. Let us look at their uses.
- Ultrasound: Here high frequency sound waves are emitted which stimulate cell activity and blood circulation. It treats deep tissue injuries. It helps reduce pain, muscle spasm and speeds up the healing process.
- TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation): A TENS machine sends electric current to the affected part of the body so that the nerves stop sending pain signals to your brain. It also stimulates the release of pain-killing natural hormones called endorphins from your brain. It is used in chronic pain conditions.
- Short-wave Diathermy (SWD): Here an electromagnetic field is formed which produces heat within body tissues. It helps reduce pain, swelling and inflammation and strengthens tissues.
- Laser Therapy: A concentrated and narrow beam of laser is used on the affected body part. It is most effective in treating soft tissue injuries and skin conditions. It is also used for tendonitis and other inflammatory conditions. It stimulates healing of tissue, reduces pain, swelling, and inflammation. It also helps breakdown post-operative thickened scar tissue and accelerates regeneration of injured cells.
These electrotherapy techniques do not hurt. You may feel a slight tingling sensation in case of TENS.
Hydrotherapy
This approach of physiotherapy uses water to aid in recovery. Hydrotherapy is carried out in a shallow pool with warm water or in a special hydrotherapy pool. Generally it is used for adults and children with physical as well as learning difficulties. Hydrotherapy has been known to relieve pain in certain cases but there is not much evidence to call it an effective pain relieving technique. However, it helps to improve blood circulation and relax contracted muscles.
Whatever technique the physiotherapist uses, it won’t have the desired effect if certain lifestyle changes are not adopted. For instance, if a person suffers from spondylitis, in addition to physiotherapy sessions, importance needs to be given to maintaining the correct posture while standing, sleeping, and sitting. The patient’s involvement is as important as the physiotherapist’s.