What are the benefits of physiotherapy (physical therapy)?
Physiotherapy is a health care profession which provides services to individuals in order to develop maintain and restore maximum movement and functional ability throughout life. This includes providing services in circumstances where movement and function are threatened by aging, injury, disease or environmental factors.
Physiotherapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, treatment/intervention, habilitation and rehabilitation. This encompasses physical, psychological, emotional, and social well being. It involves the interaction between physical therapist (PT), patients/clients, other health professionals, families, care givers, and communities. It is a process where movement potential is assessed and goals are agreed upon, using knowledge and skills unique to physiotherapists.
Physiotherapists utilize an individual’s history and physical examination to arrive at a diagnosis and establish a management plan, and when necessary, incorporate the results of laboratory and imaging studies. Electrodiagnostic testing (e.g. electromyograms and nerve conduction velocity testing) may also be of assistance.
Physiotherapy has many specialties including cardiopulmonary, geriatrics, neurologic, orthopaedic and paediatrics to name some of the more common areas.
PTs practice in many settings, such as outpatient clinics or offices, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing facilities, extended care facilities, private homes, education and research centres, schools, hospices, offices, fitness centres and sports training facilities.
Educational qualifications vary greatly by country. The span of education ranges from some countries having little formal education to others requiring masters or doctoral degrees.
Physiotherapy has and will continue to make a significant difference to the lives of many people of all ages, backgrounds and fitness levels. It can be key to restoring and maintaining a healthy level of function by;
- Reducing Pain
- Improving joint (including spinal) range of movement
- Increasing strength
- Designing rehabilitation from sports injuries
- Aiding recovery from significant injury of health event
- Maintaining independence and completion of activities of daily living
- Pre and Post operative condoning and rehabilitation
- Treating chronic pin
- Reducing Headaches and Vertigo symptoms
- Improving Cardio-respiratory function
Everyone can benefit from physiotherapy which helps to maintain a healthy balance in life by avoiding traumatic incidents such as sprains or fractures whilst additionally treating longer standing complaints such as chronic pain and muscle wastage.
Physiotherapy uses individualised assessment techniques in combination with evidence based management approaches to ensure a speedy recovery and return to previous level of activity.
At Physio4Life we believe in giving our patients the best possible opportunity to engage and explain their complaint to one of or consultants therefore each new patient is given between 45minutes and an hour on first appointment with follow ups being 30 minutes in length.