Common Physiotherapy Treatment Techniques
From excruciating back pain to neurological disorders, physical therapists have a special knack for assessing the human body and helping restore it back to optimal performance.
Armed with cutting edge equipment and a huge background of knowledge, physiotherapists can diagnose and treat nearly any ailment. How do they do this? Let’s find out.
- Manual therapy
Manual therapy is a general term for treatment that is performed using hands. It uses different techniques to cure ailments. This includes massages, mobilization and manipulation. While massage is self explanatory, mobilization and manipulation needs explanation.
Mobilization involves pulling, pushing and twisting of bones using slow, measured hand movements. On the other hand, manipulation involves applying pressure on the joints to reduce pain.
Best for- all types of injuries
While manual therapy is used for curing almost any type of ailments, it is best used to cure ailments that restrict movements.
- Water therapy
Water therapy or hydrotherapy uses water to treat a disease or to improve health conditions. Water therapy works by healing soft tissues to increase flow of blood. Water exercises are also a common treatment procedure now.
Best for- healing soft tissues
Hydrotherapy is mainly used to heal soft tissues so that the blood flow can be increased and the muscles are relaxed.
- Cold and Ice therapy
Cold therapy makes use of ice as an ailment-curing agent. This type of physiotherapy usually takes about 20 minutes, during which ice is held close to the or over the problem area. Often, cooling lotions and sprays are also used for this procedure.
Best for- arthritis and other related diseases, which involve pain, swelling, and inflammation.
Conditions that lead to inflammation and swelling often also involve constricting blood vessels, when this happens ice helps in cooling down vessels. This further helps in reducing inflammation and increasing mobility of joints.
- Heat therapy
Heat therapy primarily uses heat to increase blood circulation throughout the body. As an element, heat also has the ability to relax muscles.
However, this treatment best works for treatments involving long-term treatments because if used frequently, it can cause inflammation of the injured area.
Best for- osteoarthritis and other related problems involving stiff and immobile joints.
Applying heat in the injured or affected area not only decreases pain but also increases mobility. This therapy best works for diseases involving soft tissue such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
- Exercise
The common thing that is followed by all of the above-mentioned therapies is exercise. Nearly every type of physical therapy always involve exercises of some kind, which is specifically designed for your injury or condition.
Physiotherapists aim to improve the speed and probability of recovery through exercises. Besides, certain exercises are also aimed at improving flexibility, strength, coordination and endurance of the patient. Common exercises include stretching, lifting weights, walking and water aerobics.
Best for- any injury to stay healthy after treatment
This may not come as a surprise, but exercise is the go-to strategy to treat and prevent pain. These exercises that are suggested by physiotherapists are not just any random exercises. They are handpicked for you to suit the requirements of your condition. Each exercise targets an area, which will ensure speedy recovery.
Many patients prefer staying with pain, rather than visiting a doctor. When they do finally visit a doctor, they go to general physicians, who then refer a therapist who is more specific to such treatments. Our suggestion is that, instead of beating about the bush, come visit us directly.
So, are you ready for a check up?
