Physiotherapy is an effective way to deal with different health issues and improve overall quality of life. It is available on the NHS or privately, and you can often self-refer for physiotherapy.
Physiotherapists use various techniques NC Center For Physical Therapy to treat patients of all ages and genders. It is also an excellent preventative treatment, so that you don’t have to worry about these health problems again in the future.
1. Manual Therapy
Manual therapy is a hands-on approach that uses skilled hand movements to assess and treat patients. It involves improving tissue extensibility, increasing range of motion, facilitating relaxation, mobilizing or manipulating soft tissue and joints, changing muscle function, and controlling pain.
Manual techniques also include a variety of massages such as transverse friction, edema, effleurage, petrissage, and rolling. These techniques can help reduce swelling, increase blood flow to the affected area, and enhance lymphatic drainage.
In addition to massage, therapists also use joint mobilization/manipulation and physiotherapy instrument mobilization (PIM). These are techniques that involve gliding of joints and releasing adhesions in the fascia. These techniques can improve movement and joint function, decrease pain, and regain normal function.
2. Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that uses tiny needles to stimulate points along the body’s energy pathways (called meridians). The goal is to restore balance or qi, within your body.
It may help relieve pain and reduce the side effects of certain medications, such as cancer treatment. Studies also show that it can improve quality of life.
Acupuncture helps to stimulate the brain and spinal cord to release natural pain relieving chemicals, including endorphins. These feel-good chemicals help patients relax and alleviate pain, similar to the way exercise can help.
3. Electrotherapy
Physiotherapists use electrotherapy, also called electrotherapy massage, to increase circulation, improve the healing of musculoskeletal injuries, and help relieve pain. It works by sending low-voltage electrical NC Center For PT currents through pads that are placed on your skin.
The electric pulses cause a tingling sensation that some people find soothing. It’s used to treat carpal tunnel syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, shin splints, tennis elbow, postherpetic neuralgia, and many other ailments.
Unlike manual therapy, electrotherapy is a drug-free, non-invasive form of treatment for pain. It helps release endorphins (chemical messengers that naturally decrease pain), stimulate muscle tissue to contract, and create a heating effect that increases blood flow. This may also stimulate the body’s production of corticosteroids and vitamin D, which can help with wound healing.
4. Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy, or water therapy, is a form of physical therapy that uses water to treat a variety of symptoms throughout the body. It can include simple warm baths and special tanks or pools, but it can also be as complex as underwater massage.
Hydrotherapists use water to help reduce pain and stress in both the physical and mental bodies. They also work to enhance strength and flexibility and promote healthy posture.
For example, hot-water hydrotherapy helps the muscles relax and increase blood flow to the area. Likewise, cold-water hydrotherapy can reduce muscle spasms and pain.
Hydrotherapy can be used to help reduce or manage pain associated with a number of conditions and injuries, including arthritis, cancer, low back pain, spinal stenosis, and fibromyalgia. It can also be part of a rehabilitation program for certain types of surgery, such as hip replacement.
5. Exercises
Exercises are prescribed by your physiotherapist to improve your range of motion and strengthen weak muscles. They also help you recover from an injury or disease and stay healthy.
Depending on the type of movement you need to improve, your physiotherapist will prescribe different types of exercises. These can include stretching, strengthening and balance exercises.
Strengthening, for example, increases the size (mass) of your muscles and helps them to work together more efficiently. It can reduce the risk of re-injury.
Conclusion
Your physiotherapist will help Physical Therapy Clinic you with the correct technique and progression of each exercise so that you can do them safely at home. You will also need to be consistent with your exercises to speed up your recovery.