Physiotherapy is a type of therapy that helps restore movement and function when someone is affected by illness, injury or disability. Whether it’s rehabilitation from an acute injury like a sprained ankle, or management of a chronic condition such as heart disease, physiotherapy can help.
Physiotherapy is also used to maintain health for people of all ages, helping them to prevent disease and manage pain through education and advice.
According to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy , physiotherapy is a science-based profession and takes a holistic approach to health and wellbeing. It takes into account the patient’s general lifestyle and involves the patient directly in their own care and treatment.
Physiotherapists are trained healthcare professionals that help people affected by injury, illness or disability through a number of different approaches. These may include movement and exercise, manual therapy, aquatic therapy and other approaches such as electrotherapy or acupuncture.
Physiotherapists work in a variety of specialist areas such as neurology, pediatrics, as well as recovery after major surgery. Some physiotherapists are also involved in education, research and health promotion.
Physiotherapists can assist in the treatment of physical conditions linked to a number of the body's systems, including:
Musculoskeletal physiotherapy is a form of therapy that treats people with muscle, joint, or soft tissue conditions that affect movement, strength, posture, or cause pain. This includes common disorders associated with trauma, post-operative recovery, poor posture, athletic injuries and obesity. Patients suffering from chronic conditions, such as arthritis, can also benefit from musculoskeletal physiotherapy with the goals of returning to optimal activity, as well as minimising disability associated with disease progression.
Musculoskeletal physiotherapists have expertise in the treatment of orthopedic conditions – those affecting your body’s bones, muscles, joints, ligaments, tendons and related connective tissue. They use musculoskeletal evaluation techniques that help identify the specific problem creating pain and disability, and develop a therapy plan to:
Depending on the specific condition, musculoskeletal physiotherapists offer a full range of rehabilitation techniques and therapies such as:
Neuromuscular problems caused by neurological conditions can severely impact a person’s quality of life. Common types of impairments associated with neurological conditions include balance, vision and speech. Daily activities such as walking and grasping objects may also be damaged, leading to a loss of functional independence.
Physiotherapy can benefit a range of neurological conditions either by restoring function and capability, or managing the discomfort and pain associated with the illness. Some types of neurological conditions that may be treated through physiotherapy include alzheimer's disease, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, or head and spinal cord injuries.
Neurological physiotherapists specialise in the evaluation and treatment of individuals with movement problems due to disease or injury of the nervous system. They are familiar with various conditions that affect the neurological system, as well as the impact these conditions have on the body. In general, they teach those with neurological conditions how to perform movements that will maintain muscle mass. Neurological physiotherapists work to improve or restore a person’s strength and mobility, so they are able to perform certain activities and live as independently as possible.
Physiotherapy for neurological disorders will be tailored to the particular needs of the patient and the specific condition. For patients who have difficulty with getting up, physiotherapy can help promote circulation through range of motion or stretching exercises, which can improve joint function and prevent pressure ulcers. Physiotherapy may assist patients with taking steps to practice walking by providing stand-by assistance or using a gait belt. Patients who are walking and are mobile will benefit from physiotherapy by performing exercises to strengthen core muscles. This can improve balance and may also help with pain management and prevent muscle weakness or spasticity. Finally, neurological physiotherapists may also use several measures to help control pain or stiffness, such as muscle stimulation machines and heat or cold packs.
Cardiovascular problems are conditions that affect the heart and circulatory system, and include coronary heart disease, angina and hypertension. A physiotherapist can help prevent cardiovascular problems and the onset of heart disease by implementing a treatment program that addresses all the contributing factors of this disease. This may include providing extensive education and advice on smoking cessation and other heart healthy lifestyle changes. Another key intervention is exercise, in particular aerobic conditioning and strength training, used for weight management and to improve cholesterol levels. These are prescribed by physiotherapists as part of a structured, safe and effective program.
Physiotherapists also run cardiac rehabilitation programs for patients who are suffering from severe heart disease, have had a heart attack or are recovering after cardiac surgery. In this situation, the University of Washington Medical Center describes the goals of physical therapy as being to teach the patient, family or caregiver to:
Depending on the patient’s condition, physiotherapy treatment may include:
Respiratory physiotherapy relates to the assessment and treatment of people with disorders of the respiratory system. This includes conditions affecting the lungs, as well as a wide range of other conditions that impact that respiratory system and cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing up blood or mucus, and a decreased ability to exercise. Some common illnesses that may be treated by respiratory physiotherapy include chronic bronchitis, emphysema, cystic fibrosis and other lung diseases. In patients with respiratory conditions, physiotherapy includes, but is not limited to, various chest clearance techniques and breathing exercises.
Physiotherapists who specialise in treating patients with respiratory problems typically begin an appointment by conducting a comprehensive assessment of the patient’s breathing pattern, respiratory function and exercise capacity. According to the European Respiratory Society, a respiratory physiotherapist will then use this information to develop a therapy plan with the aim to:
Physiotherapists use a variety of techniques to help treat respiratory problems, such as:
If you are looking for help locally, look at our directory for Physiotheraphy providers in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and wider UAE. If you need more information or look for associations that can help you, please check out the below sites:
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