Are you getting sick of taking opioids and other analgesics for musculoskeletal pain? Don't worry. Physiotherapy helps you to restore your body health without medication.
It is a highly effective treatment to ease the pain with the help of exercises.
Physiotherapists are healthcare providers, certified in evaluating, diagnosing, and planning treatment according to disorders, diseases, and injuries. They deal with sports injuries, pain management, improving posture, and women's health.
Different physiotherapy techniques and tools restore body functions, mobility, and flexibility. Like a massage ball, spiky is used to ease muscle tension and increase blood circulation, alleviating pain and tightness and leading to a pain-free body movement.
What is physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy is the branch of medical science that uses physical methods such as exercises, massage, and heat therapy to treat an injury, disease, or deformity. It helps to restore normal body functions and maximise physical strength.
It is not only limited to musculoskeletal problems but involves seven areas which are:
Respiratory physiotherapy
Neuromuscular physiotherapy
Musculoskeletal physiotherapy
Paediatric physiotherapy
Orthopaedic physiotherapy
Sport physiotherapy
Ergonomics
You can see the apparent results of physiotherapy as it prevents injury and reduces the risk of disability. It educates patients on how to avoid the recurrence of an injury, and above all, it helps to attain optimal physical performance.
What are the different techniques used by physiotherapists?
Physiotherapy involves using various techniques to help people recover from their injuries. These techniques focus on restoring body functions and making individuals independent. These techniques include:
Manual therapy
Manual therapy is a "hand on" technique which aims to reduce pain and increase mobility and flexibility of the joint. It also works on soft tissue, improves blood circulation and eases the symptoms. It also involves nerve-gliding exercises.
Strengthening exercises
Conducting exercises that build strength and flexibility in the affected area
Range of motion exercises
Joint mobilisations
Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF)
Muscle energy techniques
It is the best treatment protocol for chronic and acute back pain. It involves the patient itself in treating somatic dysfunctions. When there are limited functions, METs are used to increase a joint's pain-free range of motion.
Massage therapy
Massage therapy is also a type of manual therapy. But here, I mentioned it separately because it has many kinds. It is best to ease symptoms. You can use tools like a massage ball spiky to release massage ball trigger points.
Selective point release by massage ball trigger point
Trigger point injection
Myofascial release using massage ball spiky
Soft tissue techniques, such as massage and manipulation
Kinesiology
Kinesiology is a treatment approach that uses evidence-based research to prevent injury and improve quality of life. It targets people of all ages with all types of physical disabilities.
Kinesiotaping techniques
Electrical stimulation
Electrical stimulation is an artificial way of contracting muscles. It gives the best results in case of stroke or any neuromuscular disease. It helps increase the joint's range of motion and improves circulation.
Physical medicine techniques, such as ultrasound
Neuromuscular reeducation
Electrical Heating by heat pads
Infra-red
All the techniques mentioned earlier are used according to the condition. Before starting any exercise plan, always consult with your therapist.
What is physiotherapy for arthritis?
Many people have arthritis, with symptoms including joint pain and stiffness, usually at night. Several factors, including genetics and environmental factors. This condition is characterised by tissues that have become stiffer and less flexible than they should be for their age.
Physiotherapy also helps to maintain or restore normal movement in the affected tissues through therapeutic exercises. For example: if you have arthritis in your hips, then physiotherapy would help restore motion in those areas.
It may involve doing exercises such as squats, leg raises, applying heat or cold packs to reduce inflammation in joints, or applying pressure where needed to help increase circulation back into the tissue.
Hot and cold packs:
Heating helps to increase blood flow which reduces the pain in joints. At the same time, cold packs reduce swelling and inflammation. If both are unavailable, use a cloth and soak it in warm and cold water.
Strengthening Exercises
In arthritis, muscles become weak, which hinders your daily tasks. Strengthening exercises helps to regain muscle strength.
Massage
Massage helps to increase the blood flow of the affected part, which helps to ease tension in the muscles and reduces pain. You can use a massage ball trigger point for it.
Massage ball spiky can be used for a variety of purposes, including:
Massaging sore muscles.
Relieving tightness in muscles and joints.
Helping with muscle injuries.
Electrical Nerve Stimulation
It is the electrical way to soothe the pain. It sends a tingling sensation to the nerve endings that block nerves from sending pain messages to the brain.
Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy is the best way to ease the symptoms of arthritis. A patient can perform exercises in water with a temperature of 35 degrees celsius under the supervision of a physical therapist.
Acupuncture
It is a traditional Chinese method to cure arthritis pain. Medicine is inserted with the help of fine needles at acupoints. This helps to improve blood flow and thus alleviates pain.
How often should I do physiotherapy?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Physiotherapy is a long-term care treatment, and you should work with your doctor to determine how often you should do it and what the best way is for you to do it.
The frequency of your physiotherapy treatment depends on your specific condition, but generally, you should aim to complete a series of exercises at home once per week. You should do physiotherapy as often as necessary.
Physiotherapy treatments are usually administered twice weekly for at least several weeks. This may vary depending on the severity of your symptoms and how quickly they respond to treatment.
Your physiotherapist recommends four sessions per week depending on the severity of the injury or disease and your response to the treatment process. But if the severity of the pain is less, you can also take three sessions per week.
Final Verdict
Physiotherapy is the rehabilitation of the human body through physical methods like exercises, massages, and other techniques. Physical agents like heat, cold and ultrasound may improve circulation, while massage and stretching help increase joint flexibility.
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