Physical therapy, as offered by The Good Physio, is a form of treatment where trained physicians evaluate and treat abnormal bodily functions that can be attributed or associated with a disease, injury, disability, or medical condition.
Such physicians work in different areas or fields of healthcare that can include rehab centres, outpatient offices, nursing homes, hospitals, hospices, research centres, home health, schools, government agencies, and private practices as well as sports and fitness settings.
What Should You Expect From Physical Therapy?
The treatment can help people across all ages with their different health conditions. The therapists will care for the patient in every phase of the healing process, from making the diagnosis to the therapeutic and preventive phases of the recovery process. The physical therapy can be providers as a standalone treatment or as a supportive one depending on the nature of the condition being treated.
Common Conditions Addressed Through Physical Therapy
The therapy can be offered as a treatment option for various conditions, including:
• COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), MI (Post-Myocardial Infarction), and CF (Cystic Fibrosis), among other Cardiopulmonary conditions.
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Trigger Finger and other issues that can be treated through hand therapy
• TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorders), Back pain, Rotator cuff tears, and other Musculoskeletal Dysfunctions.
• Multiple Sclerosis, Traumatic Brain Injuries, Stroke, Vestibular Dysfunction, Parkinson’s Disease, Spinal cord injuries, and Neurological damages or conditions
• Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, developmental delays, and other Pediatric conditions
• Lymphedema, Urinary Incontinence, pelvic floor dysfunction and other issues related to women’s health
• Concussions and various sports-related injuries
• Wound care, Diabetic Ulcers, and burns
The Benefits of Physical Therapy
• No need for surgery
• Improves balance
• Enhances the recovery from trauma, paralysis, stroke, and injuries
• Aids in the management of age-related health issues
The physical therapist can help athletes maximise their performance by strengthening specific areas of the body as well as discovering new ways of using muscles.
Types of Physical Therapy
As is the case with any medical and healthcare practice, different therapies can be offered when treating an array of conditions. Those in the field of physical therapy include:
• Orthopaedic Physical Therapy: It focuses on the treatment of musculoskeletal damage and injuries related to the bones, fascias, ligaments, muscle tissue, and tendons. It is a therapy that is suitable for dealing with chronic medical issues, sprains, fractures, bursitis, and tendonitis. It also is applied in the rehabilitation and recovery from orthopaedic surgery. The process of orthopaedic physical therapy can have a patient undergo manual therapy, mobility training, joint mobilisation, strength training, and other modalities.
• Geriatric Physical Therapy: It is a treatment that will help the aged who have developed conditions, such as osteoporosis and arthritis, as well as Alzheimer’s diseases, which impact their physical mobility and functions. Other notable issues addressed via geriatric physical therapy include balance disorders, hip, and joint replacements, as well as incontinence. The treatment seeks to reduce or relieve the pain, restore mobility, and raise physical fitness levels.
• Neurological Physical Therapy: It can be an effective treatment option for conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, cerebral palsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, and brain damage. The therapy aims at improving the responsiveness of limbs, reverse high muscle tension and strength attributed to muscle atrophy, and treat paralysis.
People that have cardiopulmonary conditions or have undergone surgical procedures can benefit from cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation treatment. The therapy helps to increase stamina and physical endurance.
Women and men with pelvic and urinary problems attributed to injuries, surgery, or a health condition can benefit from pelvic floor rehabilitation. The therapy will aim at treating faecal and urinary incontinence, urinary urgency as well as relieve pelvic aches.
Physical therapy is not such a form of treatment that majors on physical manipulation of the body. It also may include the following:
• Improve blood flow and promote healing by heating muscles, tendons, and tissues.
• The use of ultrasound when providing phonophoresis that aims at delivering certain medications to lower inflammation in some parts of the body
• E-Stim (Electrical Stimulation) that entails the use of topical electrodes on the skin to increase function and reduce pain. TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) is one type of electrical stimulation therapy that focuses on the nerves and nervous system. It may be used in conjunction with anti-inflammatory medications, which is a procedure known as iontophoresis.
• Light therapy is also incorporated in the delivery of physical therapy in which special lights or lasers are used to treat some types of medical and health conditions.
• Heat and Cold therapy is also another technique, at times, included in physical therapy.
Finding a Physical Therapist
The process of finding a qualified physical therapist may involve various things, including speciality treatment, insurance cover policies, and geographical location. Most insurance providers have a list of physical therapists and institutions that offer this type of treatment. You can also get recommendations from other healthcare providers and centres.