Physiotherapy (PT) helps to treat injuries, ailments or deformities by employing various methods such as massage, heat therapy, exercises, electrotherapy, patient education, and advice.

Credit: ESB Professional/Shutterstock.com

PT, also known as physical therapy or kinesiology, helps to treat orthopedic, neurological, and cardiopulmonary disease conditions. Patients from all age groups like infants, children, adults, and geriatric population can be treated for their respective conditions with the help of PT.

Physiotherapists are the trained allied health care professionals, who use a variety of methods to treat the disorder; thereby, helping the patients in improving their overall quality of life.

Health benefits of physiotherapy

PT helps the patients suffering from certain movement disorders, which could be congenital (present at the time of birth), age-related, accidental, or due to certain lifestyle changes.

Physiotherapists work in collaboration with their patients by advising or guiding them about certain exercises and educating them about certain lifestyle changes, which altogether help alleviating various painful and impaired mobility conditions. Physiotherapists also promote movements such as walking and provide certain mobility aids, which can help the patients in improving their ailments.

Hand massages performed by physiotherapists can relieve patients from pain and stiffness by improving blood circulation and relaxing the affected area. This technique is known as manual therapy, which is used to mobilize, manipulate, and increase the functioning of the affected area.

When is physiotherapy used?

There are many conditions for which physiotherapy can be applied:

Cardiac and respiratory conditions

Physiotherapists run cardiac rehabilitation centers where they educate the patients about how to quit smoking and maintain a healthy lifestyle. They also treat the patients who suffer from a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and chronic obstructive airways disease.

Physiotherapists educate the patients suffering from cystic fibrosis (a condition where mucous becomes thick and sticky and clogs the lungs) about certain techniques, enabling them to remove mucus from their lungs in the comfort of their own home.

For asthmatic patients, a physiotherapist will recommend an active life style, incorporating specific exercises and resistance training techniques. Overall, these technqiues can improve their quality of life.

Neurological conditions

Patients suffering from neurological conditions such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, cerebral palsy, or spinal cord injury can improve their conditions to a greater extent by using PT. A physiotherapist may help in rehabilitating motor skills and maintaining the correct posture and gait by employing mechanical aids.

Orthopedic conditions

Certain conditions, such as trauma, that affect the bone and joints and induce sprains, back pain, and fractures are treated by orthopedic physiotherapists. Once a surgery is performed, physiotherapists introduce joint mobilization techniques such as acupuncture (dry needling), hot and cold packs, and electrical stimulation.

In the case of fractures, once the dislocated bone is fixed, PT can help in re-establishing the movement, minimizing the stiffness, and restoring the strength of the affected area.

Childhood conditions

PT helps in treating certain childhood disorders such as muscular dystrophy; a condition defined by a loss of muscle strength.For muscular dystrophy and other related conditions, PT can improve mobility and reduce pain. Pediatric PT can also aid  children who suffer from delayed motor activities such as walking, difficulty in carrying out structured movements or hyperactivity.

Geriatric conditions

Certain old-age conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis, and hip and joint replacement can be well treated with PT. Physiotherapy can speed up recovery time for these patients.

Sports Injuries

Physiotherapists can help injured sportspersons by advising and counseling them about the injury. They assess, diagnose, and rehabilitate the sports injury and educate the patients about certain restricted movements.

PT has a variety of treatment approaches and techniques, which can benefit the patients in relieving their conditions by using a holistic approach. Hence, this particular therapy has the ability to improve body’s movement and its functioning to an utmost level.