Physiotherapy: How It Works

Physiotherapy is an important aspect of the medical health system and has in recent times become widespread and more used. However, physiotherapy: how it works, and its effectiveness remains confusing to many. To demystify what physiotherapy is, its techniques, its role in treating and preventing injuries, pains, and maintenance of general health and fitness, keep reading this article.

What Is Physiotherapy?

Physiotherapy is a medical profession and a type of treatment based on the study of anatomy, physiology, and neuroscience. Physiotherapy aims at restoring the function of the body and mobility of patients who are affected by disabilities, injuries, or illnesses. It helps patients regain their normal functional abilities with the use of techniques such as exercise, manual therapy/massage, electrotherapy, and hydrotherapy among others.

Physiotherapy Techniques

In physiotherapy, physiotherapists use several techniques to help the patient regain or improve motility and wellbeing. These techniques are approaches to a patient’s complaint type and methods used to improve their conditions. They are:

Manual Therapy

Manual therapy in physiotherapy involves the use of hands to mobilize affected joints and tissues. It is sometimes referred to as mobilization or massage. A particular amount of pressure is applied by the hands of a physiotherapist on the affected joints thereby reducing pains, relaxing stiffness, and muscle spasm. Manual therapy is said to improve blood circulation, reduce pains, treat chronic back pains, and enhance mobility of affected parts.

Exercises

Certain exercises are therapeutic, just as there are muscle and abs-building ones. Therapeutic exercises constitute a larger part of and play huge roles in physiotherapy. It is noteworthy to know that these exercises must be done consistently throughout physiotherapy for complete effectiveness. Physiotherapy makes use of exercises in two ways/phases of treatment:

Recovery: Exercises can be used during the recovery of certain conditions like injuries and surgeries. These conditions can affect the overall mobility of patients; mild exercises are recommended by physiotherapists for these cases.

Strengthening: On the other hand, for cases of slight paralysis or stroke, certain exercises are taught to patients to strengthen the affected part, limb, or joint of the body.

Education

Sometimes in physiotherapy, what the patient needs is not the message or physical work out rather proper information on things can be of great help. Physiotherapy is an important source of education and insight into postural habits, exercise, dieting, physios, and how to manage day-to-day activities in wellness. These bits of advice and education come from experts who have been trained as physiotherapists.

Electrotherapy

Electrotherapy as the name would suggest, makes use of electric current to cause muscle contractions by triggering the nervous system. It is a physiotherapy treatment approach that reduces pains and hastens healing by promoting muscle contraction. Specialized machines and techniques are used for electrotherapy, some of which are laser beams, ultrasound, TENS machines, and SWD.

In laser therapy, a beam of laser, concentrated and narrow, is used on the affected part to treat tendonitis, skin conditions, soft tissue injuries, and other inflammatory conditions. Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to trigger cell activity and blood circulation to treat deep tissue injuries, muscle spasms and reduce pains.

Electrotherapy as the name would suggest, makes use of electric current to cause muscle contractions by triggering the nervous system. It is a physiotherapy treatment approach that reduces pains and hastens healing by promoting muscle contraction. Specialized machines and techniques are used for electrotherapy, some of which are laser beams, ultrasound, TENS machines, and SWD.

In laser therapy, a beam of laser, concentrated and narrow, is used on the affected part to treat tendonitis, skin conditions, soft tissue injuries, and other inflammatory conditions. Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to trigger cell activity and blood circulation to treat deep tissue injuries, muscle spasms and reduce pains.

TENS is an acronym for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation while SWD is Short-Wave Diathermy. A TENS machine is used in chronic pain conditions. It sends an electrical current to the affected body part so that the nerves stop sending pain signals to the brain.

Also, it stimulates the release of endorphin, a hormone that kills pains, from the brain. On the other hand, SWD makes use of an electromagnetic field to produce heat within the tissue of the affected body part. Asides from reducing pains, it works well in strengthening tissues.

Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy makes use of water to hasten the recovery and the healing process. The process makes use of a hydrotherapy pool or some shallow one filled with warm water for relaxation of contracted muscles, relief of pains, and improved blood circulation.

Who Is A Physiotherapist?

A physiotherapist has been certified with a university degree in physiotherapy at the least. Therefore, the practice of physiotherapy is a professional one that requires qualification, expertise, and licensing/registration.

A Physiotherapist studies the body’s anatomy and function, as well as the science of movement and brain activity. They learn to diagnose pains and their root cause while appropriately doing the most to restore the patient to health and proper body part function.

Conclusion

A physiotherapist can help alleviate your pains and boost wellness, do not hesitate to visit one when the need arises. Whatever technique the physiotherapist uses in itself cannot work alone. Correct your diet, change certain lifestyles, and adhere to the information provided by your physiotherapist for a better life.

Team PainAssist
Team PainAssist
Written, Edited or Reviewed By: Team PainAssist, Pain Assist Inc. This article does not provide medical advice. See disclaimer
Last Modified On:March 24, 2023

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