Physiotherapy is a medical practice that assesses, diagnoses, and treats different kinds of injuries and health conditions while aiming to restore mobility and function. In Singapore and several other countries, the term is used interchangeably with physical therapy.
In physiotherapy, a trained professional assesses your current condition and formulates a physical treatment plan to address the body’s weak points. Treatment includes exercises that can strengthen your muscles and improve fine and gross motor skills.
While people commonly associate physical therapy with athletes and sports injuries, its benefits are not limited to them. To elaborate further, here are some of the ways physiotherapy can help you.
Pain Management
If you are currently experiencing chronic pain, consider going to a physiotherapy clinic. The practice uses various techniques, exercises, and treatments, which restore muscle and joint function and reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation. Moreover, physiotherapy can also help prevent the pain from returning with a proper treatment plan.
Posture Correction
Poor posture can contribute to many problems, including back and neck pain, headaches, poor balance, and difficulty when walking. You can easily address these problems with physiotherapy. A licensed professional will assess your body mechanics and find what you need to have better posture. It can include stronger back muscles or better balance. By pinpointing what you need, a physical therapist can create a customized exercise program addressing your posture.
Increases Mobility and Movement
If you are currently having trouble while walking, running, or moving, physiotherapy can help you get back on track. Strengthening and stretching exercises may help restore your ability to move. It applies to individuals who have just undergone surgery as well.
Improves Balance
Proper balance is easily overlooked in day-to-day life, but it is crucial in preventing injuries. Individuals with poor balance are more prone to falling and have a greater chance of getting fractures and concussions. Therapeutic exercises that can improve your coordination and balance, helping decrease this risk. Physical therapists may also help you acquire a suitable assistive device.
Prevents Injury
One of the main goals of physical therapy is to assess the body and search for vulnerable points to injury. After identifying these, the physiotherapist will formulate an exercise program that can address these weakened points and make your body stronger as a whole. In this manner, you avoid getting injured.
Help Heart and Lung Diseases
People struggling with heart and lung conditions can benefit greatly from physiotherapy. For individuals with heart disease, physical therapy can strengthen the heart and improve mobility, which are crucial to rehabilitation. Meanwhile, physiotherapy can help people with lung diseases by clearing fluids in the lungs and maintaining lung patency.
Avoids and Helps with Surgery
If the doctor permits, there are some cases where you can opt for physiotherapy instead of surgery. While the process will take longer, it will help eliminate the pain, expediate the healing process, and consequently, improve your overall health. This can help you save on costs and efficiently guide your body down the road to recovery.
Even if you need to have surgery, physical therapy can still help you before and after the operation. Some cases will require physiotherapy beforehand to prepare you for the procedure. After all, you’ll be able to heal more quickly post-surgery if you’re in good shape. After the operation, you may need physical therapy as well to restore muscle function and get back on your feet.
Rehabilitation from Stroke
It is common for patients who have had a stroke to have limited mobility. Physical therapy aids in rehabilitating them. The initial three to four months of physiotherapy can help the patient recover function and mobility from the effects of a stroke. In this manner, the patient becomes more independent and slowly acclimate to the tasks of daily living.
Pregnancy and Postpartum Care
Pregnancy and childbirth put a lot of stress on the body, and women need a lot of help to recover. Physical therapists can contribute to easy delivery and help the woman cope with labor pains.
Their assistance extends to after the delivery as well. Women struggle with all kinds of pain after childbirth, including back pain and neck pain. By going through physiotherapy, the patient can learn proper posture and undergo helpful exercises that will not only reduce the pain but also help them recover efficiently.
Addresses Age-Related Medical Problems
As a person grows older, they begin to experience different health problems, including joint pains, osteoporosis, and arthritis. Older patients may benefit from the less strained and more conservative approach of physical therapy compared to having surgery. By effectively managing these conditions, you can reduce their effects and improve your quality of life.
Based on the points above, it becomes clear that physical therapy can help people from all walks of life in many different ways. It is not limited to athletes and seniors. If you are currently struggling with chronic pain or are simply looking to becoming fitter, consult a physical therapist and give your body the boost it needs to live a healthier life.
