Physiotherapy helps people of all ages who have medical conditions, illnesses or injuries that limit their regular ability to move and function.
A customized Physiotherapy program can help individuals return to their prior level of functioning, and encourage activities and lifestyle changes that can help prevent further injury and improve overall health and well being.
Physiotherapy provides optimum conditions to healing. Primary care doctors often refer patients to Physiotherapy at the first sign of a problem, since it is considered a conservative approach to managing problems. Wondering what makes Physiotherapy so important here are 7 ways Physiotherapy may benefit you:
1. Reduce or eliminate pain: Therapeutic exercises and manual therapy techniques such as joint and soft tissue mobilization or treatments such as ultrasound, taping or electrical stimulation can help relieve pain and restore muscle and joint function to reduce pain. Such therapies can also prevent pain from returning.
2. Manage Women’s Health and other conditions: Women have specific health concerns, such as with pregnancy and post-partum care. Physical therapists can offer specialized management of issues related to women’s health. Additionally, PT can provide specialized treatment for: Bowel incontinence, breast cancer, constipation, fibromyalgia, lymph edema, male pelvic health, pelvic pain, and urinary incontinence.
3. Improve mobility: If you’re having trouble standing, walking or moving—no matter your age—Physiotherapy can help. Stretching and strengthening exercises help restore your ability to move. Physical therapists can properly fit individuals with a cane, crutches or any other assistive device, or assess for orthotic prescription. By customizing an individual care plan, whatever activity that is important to an individual’s life can be practiced and adapted to ensure maximal performance and safety.
4. Recover from a stroke: It’s common to lose some degree of function and movement after stroke. Physiotherapy helps strengthen weakened parts of the body and improve gait and balance. Physical therapists can also improve stroke patients’ ability to transfer and move around in bed so that they can be more independent around the home, and reduce their burden of care for toileting, bathing, dressing and other activities of daily living.
5. Manage heart and lung disease: While patients may complete cardiac rehabilitation after a heart attack or procedure, you also may receive Physiotherapy if your daily functioning is affected. For pulmonary problems, Physiotherapy can improve quality of life through strengthening, conditioning and breathing exercises, and help patients clear fluid in the lungs.
6. Recover from or prevent a sports injury: Physical therapists understand how different sports can increase your risk for specific types of injuries (such as stress fractures for distance runners). They can design appropriate recovery or prevention exercise programs for you to ensure a safe return to your sport.
7. Avoid surgery: If Physiotherapy helps you eliminate pain or heal from an injury, surgery may not be needed. And even if surgery is required, you may benefit from pre-surgery physical therapy. If you are going into a surgery stronger and in better shape, you will recover faster afterwards in many cases. Also, by avoiding surgery, health care costs are reduced.
{ If you have questions about how
Physiotherapy may help you or someone you care about, please don’t hesitate to
ask your health care provider or local PT for information.}