Why Physiotherapy

Physiotherapist are movement experts who optimize quality of life through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patient education. Physiotherapy helps people of all ages who have medical conditions, illnesses or injuries that limit their regular ability to move and function.

According to the World Confederation of Physiotherapists, Physiotherapists help develop, maintain and restore maximum movement and function at any stage of life, whenever that movement and function is impacted by disease, injury or any other contributing condition.

Physiotherapists are skilled in detailed clinical evaluation and diagnosis with the help of relevant clinical investigations. On the basis of diagnosis and clinical reasoning Physiotherapist create a customized intervention plan comprising of patient education, exercise prescription, manual therapy and electrotherapy where needed. 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. The scope of physiotherapy practice is dynamic and responsive to patient and societal health needs, some of which are listed below:

1. Reduce or eliminate pain

Therapeutic exercises and manual therapy techniques such as joint and soft tissue mobilization or electrotherapy treatments such as TENS 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. Avoid surgery

If physiotherapy helps you eliminate pain or heal from an injury, surgery may not be needed. For some conditions, including meniscal tears and knee osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tears, spinal stenosis, and degenerative disk disease, treatment by a Physiotherapist has been found to be as effective as surgery. And even if surgery is required, you may benefit from pre-surgery physiotherapy. 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.

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. Physiotherapist 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 or prevent a sports injury

Physiotherapist 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.

5. Improve your balance and prevent falls

Specifically in geriatric population therapists will provide exercises that safely and carefully challenge your balance as a way to mimic real-life situations. Therapists also help you with exercises to improve coordination and assistive devices to help with safer walking. When the balance problem is caused by a problem in one’s vestibular system, Physiotherapist can perform specific maneuvers that can quickly restore proper vestibular functioning, and reduce and eliminate symptoms of dizziness or vertigo.

6. Manage age-related joint issues

As individuals age, they may develop arthritis or osteoporosis or need a joint replacement. Physiotherapist are experts in helping patients recover from joint replacement, and manage arthritic or osteoporotic conditions conservatively.

7. Manage Women’s Health and other conditions

Women have specific health concerns, such as with pregnancy and post-partum care. Physiotherapist can offer specialized management of issues related to women’s health. Additionally, Physiotherapist can provide specialized treatment for: urinary incontinence, post breast cancer surgery lymphedema, fibromyalgia, pelvic pain.