What is Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy is a healthcare discipline that uses movement, exercise and manual techniques to help individuals recover from injuries, manage pain, and improve physical abilities. It aims to address the underlying causes of problems rather than just treating symptoms. Physiotherapy also aims at promoting long-term health and function.
Physiotherapy is more than Injury Recovery
More often than not, people get injured and don’t even realize it. They will only realize they have a sprain or a strain when it’s gotten really painful and their movement has been significantly compromised and pain levels are interrupting their daily life. If you seek regular check-ins with your physiotherapist, you can get at these ‘micro-injuries’ early because the physiotherapist has the skill to identify what is lacking movement and function.
Here are 10 benefits you will gain from Physiotherapy:
Pain Reduction: Physiotherapy can effectively reduce or eliminate pain through various techniques like manual therapy, exercise, and modalities like heat or cold and behaviour modification.
2. Improved Mobility: Physiotherapists help restore movement and functionality through exercises and manual techniques, improving overall mobility. There is hidden movement in every joint – end-range movement- that most people do not even realize. Over time due to our lifestyle, posture and movements, we tend to lose this end-range mobility and this can lead to joint derangement syndrome which accounts for over 75% of painful conditions such as lower back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, elbow pain and knee and hip pain.
3. Increased Strength and Balance: Physiotherapy programs can improve muscle strength and joint stability, enhancing balance and reducing the risk of falls and ultimately helping with quality of life and longevity.
4. Reduced Risk of Falls: By improving strength, balance, and mobility, physiotherapy can significantly reduce the risk of falls, especially in older adults or in people that have pre-existing conditions like a stroke or congenital defects like scoliosis.
5. Chronic Condition Management: Physiotherapy plays a crucial role in managing chronic conditions like arthritis, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Physiotherapist are educated in all systems of the body from cardiovascular to metabolic.
6. Post-Surgery Rehabilitation: Physiotherapy is ESSENTIAL for post-surgical recovery, helping patients regain strength, mobility, and function.
7. Injury Prevention: Physiotherapists can provide guidance and exercises to help prevent future injuries, especially in athletes or when trying out a new sport like running or pickleball.
8. Mental Health Benefits: Physiotherapy can positively impact mental well-being by improving physical activity, reducing stress, and enhancing overall mood.
9. Improved Quality of Life: By addressing pain, improving mobility, and enhancing overall function, physiotherapy can significantly improve quality of life.
10. Reduced Need for Surgery: In some cases, like for lower back pain and knee arthritis, physiotherapy can effectively reduce the need for surgery by addressing pain and restoring movement and function. At the very least, physiotherapy can delay the need for surgery for 1-5 years depending on the severity of the condition and how committed the patient is to their physiotherapy program.
How to start YOUR physiotherapy journey:
Locate your local physiotherapist and pay them a visit at their clinic. Check out the place and talk to the therapist to see if you jive with them. Ask questions about how they can help you get the benefits of physiotherapy listed above.
