What Is Physiotherapy and What Are the Treatment Procedures?

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If you have problems moving parts of your body, physiotherapy can be a solution. Physiotherapy is a treatment that is not only done on people who are sick but can be done by everyone as a prevention of the emergence of disease. Another name for physiotherapy is physical therapy. There are many fields of physiotherapy including child physiotherapy, stroke physiotherapy, to orthopedic physiotherapy. Physiotherapists are people who will later determine the right program for you according to conditions by using the help of the appropriate physiotherapy tool.

What is physiotherapy?

physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is a treatment that is carried out to help restore the function and movement of a person's body due to injury, pain, or loss of body ability.

In addition, this therapy can also be done to reduce the risk of injury or illness later on. This treatment is in the form of movements, exercises, manual therapy, education and advice. All people of various ages can attend this therapy. Treatment will be guided by a therapist who helps patients to deal with pain.

Physiotherapy is a therapy based on science and an 'overall' approach to health and well-being, including the patient's lifestyle in general.

Not only that, you can do this therapy to manage long-term medical conditions such as asthma, even if you are preparing for labor.

Types of care in physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is therapy that is carried out using various types of treatments. The following are various treatments that are commonly used, including:

Manual therapy

Manual therapy is a technique used by physical therapists to flex their joints by massaging them directly using their hands.

Transcutaneous nerve stimulation

This therapy is carried out using a small battery-driven device that is used to send low-level current through electrodes placed on the surface of the skin.

This one physiotherapy tool is useful for relieving pain in various parts of the body.

Magnetic therapy

This therapy is done by using electromagnets of various types and sizes. Same as stranscutaneous nerve nerve stimulation, this physiotherapy tool is useful to reduce the pain that attacks.

Taping

Taping is a physiotherapy device in the form of elastic plaster which is intended to naturally heal injured parts of the body. The way is by supporting and stabilizing muscles and joints without limiting their movements.

This tool, named kinesio taping, is believed to be able to improve circulation, speed recovery of injuries, relieve pain, and help deal with inflammation in the skin.

Diathermy

Diathermy is a type of therapy using heat that is channeled through high frequency electromagnetic currents to cure various conditions.

Ultrasound and phonoperesis

Therapeutic ultrasound helps reduce inflammation by pushing heat to the injured area to cure muscle spasms, increase metabolism, and increase blood flow to damaged tissue.

While phonoporesis is a technique that utilizes ultrasonic waves to help the maximum absorption of topical drugs.

Various fields of physiotherapy based on treatment goals

Physiotherapy is a type of treatment that has various health benefits. Different treatment goals are different benefits. Of the many conditions that can be overcome by physical therapy, the following three include:

Child physiotherapy

children play alone

Children's physiotherapy aims to help treat children and adolescents with various problems with their physical health. In addition, this therapy is also done to help provide support to families and parents who have children with various physical problems.

Usually, this therapy is done in children who have difficulty moving body parts, so they can maximize physical development, activity, and the ability to play and socialize.

Physical therapy is also carried out to overcome various health problems that inhibit body movements such as:

Cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy is a group of conditions that affect the muscles and nerves. This disease is not innate but develops and starts from the time the baby is born.

Various symptoms of cerebral palsy such as the arms and legs move abnormally, late talking and walking, difficulty eating, poor muscle shape in the early ages of life, making abnormal body posture, poor coordination of motion, stiff body, and muscle spasms. Child physiotherapy can be one of the solutions to overcome this health problem.

Global development delay

Global development delay (GDD) is a delay in children's development in terms of emotional, mental, and physical. Usually, children with GDD experience problems in the knowledge of the language and the way of pronunciation, vision, movement skills, social and emotional skills, and the ability to think. Through child physiotherapy, GDD can be overcome to improve its development.

Developmental co-ordination disorder (DCD)

Developmental co-ordination disorder (DCD) or what is also called dyspraxia is a condition that affects a child's physical coordination which makes his movements not like the child's movements in general and seems stiff.

Quoted from the NHS, this condition is usually three or four times more common in boys than in women. Just like global development delay, this one physical health problem can also be overcome by using child physiotherapy.

Neuromuscular disorders

Child physiotherapy can be done to overcome neuromuscular disorders. This condition is characterized by the inability of the nerves and muscles to work properly.

This disorder usually affects the nerves, especially those located outside the brain and spinal cord. In addition, the condition also affects skeletal muscles such as the trunk, arms, and legs.

Usually, neuromuscular disorders are congenital congenital diseases. In addition, family genetic history that has similar conditions also increases the risk of this one health problem.

Acquired brain injury (ABI)

Acquired brain injury is a condition to describe all types of brain injuries that occur after birth. Usually the brain will experience injuries as a result of traumatic brain injury, collisions, brain tumors, to certain infections and diseases.

ABI in children can cause epilepsy, impaired vision, touch, and smell, physical ability disorders such as tremor and muscle weakness, to impaired communication skills such as late talking. Child physiotherapy can help overcome problems related to physical problems.

Down's Syndrome

Down syndrome is a genetic condition that causes learning disorders in children and certain physical disorders, such as small heads, lower weight and height than average, less well-formed muscles, and flat facial features.

This condition will last a lifetime. However, with proper care, Down syndrome children can grow healthy and even do various productive things like other healthy people. One treatment that you can try to apply is child physiotherapy.

Child physiotherapy programs are usually included in their daily activities. The therapist will also provide simple knowledge and training for the family to be able to help and encourage children to practice the physiotherapy program that has been made.

Neurological physiotherapy

emotional and behavioral changes after a stroke

Neurological physical therapy is carried out for people who have neurological or neurological disorders. For example Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's, spinal cord injuries, and also strokes. One of the many diseases that use this therapy is stroke.

Stroke physiotherapy will be performed after a stroke. Usually, strokes cause brain damage. As a result, you will experience weakness or paralysis on one side of the body and difficulty moving the body so that it inhibits daily activities.

Stroke physiotherapy can help you regain strength and ability to move the body. Neurophysiotherapy is a specialty of physical therapy caused by damage to the brain and nervous system such as stroke. An expert therapist will help create a therapy program that is suitable for your health condition.

Generally stroke physiotherapy is performed to maintain post-traumatic health conditions and avoid complications that can slow the recovery process. In a stroke physiotherapy program, the therapist will also tell you how the right position to lie down and also how to sit safely. In addition, the therapist will help motivate you to be actively involved and learn about the body's normal movements in each stroke physiotherapy session.

Usually, the therapist will also determine what physiotherapy tools are needed. Generally, for stroke physiotherapists therapists need physiotherapy devices such as wheelchairs, walking aids like walker and also a stick.

Physiotherapy for strokes can begin 24 hours after the attack. At that time, you will be encouraged and motivated to get up and move as best you can. For mild stroke cases, stroke physiotherapy usually focuses on preventing complications and your ability to move and be active again.

However, over time, stroke physiotherapy will help you become more independent and do various other things more than just moving your limbs.

Orthopedic Physiotherapy

thigh injury

Orthopedic physical therapy helps diagnose, control, and treat disorders and injuries to the musculoskeletal system. In addition, this physical therapy also helps the healing process after orthopedic surgery (bone). Generally, orthopedic therapists are trained to treat postoperative joints, sports injuries, arthritis, and other injuries.

Electric stimulation is one of the physiotherapy tools that are often used to accelerate patient recovery. Some therapies that are usually done also are heat therapy, cold therapy, and strength training.

Generally typical injuries are handled by orthopedic therapists such as fractures, sprains, and inflammation of the tendons. Generally, orthopedic physical therapists will recommend a variety of exercises that are appropriate for the condition.

In addition, the physiotherapy equipment needed will also be adjusted to the condition of your body. The physiotherapy tool used at the beginning of therapy will usually be different as the condition develops.

When does physiotherapy need to be done?

knee pain

Physiotherapy is a therapy that can be done to prevent disease because it can increase your physical activity. In addition, this therapy also helps attack health problems such as:

  • Bones, joints and fine tissue - such as back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain and injury
  • The nervous system or brain - such as movement problems that cause stroke, multiple sclerosis, or Parkinson's
  • Heart and circulation - problems that need to be cured after a heart attack
  • Lungs - chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis

Usually, the doctor will recommend when you need to do physical therapy as additional care is given to help restore the condition.

Who can guide physical therapy?

chest physical therapy
Source: Advantage Health

Physiotherapy is a treatment that requires a special therapist and cannot be done carelessly. A therapist called a physiotherapist must be experienced and trained.

So, physiotherapists are people who really understand and are equipped with physical therapy. Usually this therapy is carried out by someone who is part of a multidisciplinary team of various health fields such as those working in:

  • Hospital
  • Communities that come from health centers and clinics
  • Field of surgery or surgeon
  • Field of sports

Not only in hospitals or clinics, you can also ask the therapist to come home. Usually, the therapist will also prepare or ask you to provide the physiotherapy needed at each meeting.

Various treatment procedures performed by a physical therapist

therapy for people with disabilities

The physiotherapist must focus on the body as a whole compared to one aspect of the pain that the patient is experiencing at that time. In essence, when patients want to undergo this treatment, the physiotherapist also engages in care which includes matters of education, awareness, empowering and encouraging patient participation during treatment. The following are the usual physical therapy procedures.

1. Education and advice

The physical therapist will give overall advice about things that can affect your daily life, such as doing regular exercise and regulating a healthy weight according to your height and body shape.

The suggestions given aim to change your lifestyle. In addition, the advice given can also be specific things that can be applied every day to look after you and reduce the risk of pain and injury. For example, when you experience back pain, you will be notified of correct posture, carrying and lifting objects correctly, avoiding bad twisting movements, stretching excessively, or standing for too long.

2. Movement and practice

The movements given are usually adjusted to exercise advice and physical activity according to your condition. In addition, training is recommended to improve your overall health and mobility. Physiotherapists usually recommend movements and exercises to help improve mobility and function, such as:

  • Exercises designed to change movement and strength in certain parts of the body - this should be done routinely and repeated with a set amount of time.
  • Activities that involve overall body movements such as swimming and walking - these activities can help postoperative healing or injuries that affect your mobility.
  • Exercise in warm and shallow water - water is believed to relax muscles and joints. Water can also provide resistance to help strengthen you gradually.
  • Suggestions and exercises help you improve your physical activity - advice will be given in the interest of keeping you active in a safe manner.
  • Physiotherapy tools to help mobility, such as crutches or sticks, are also provided to help you move.

3. Manual therapy

Manual therapy is done to strengthen certain parts of your body. In this exercise exercise, the physiotherapist will use his hands to help relieve pain and stiffness, and encourage your bodily movements to improve. This therapy can also help:

  • Promotes blood circulation
  • Reduces pain and stiffness in the muscles of the body
  • Removing fluids is more efficient than some parts of the body
  • Increases movement in body parts

The technique used can be massage. An example of the benefits of massage is improving the quality of life for some people who experience serious long-term conditions by reducing anxiety levels and sleep quality.

What Is Physiotherapy and What Are the Treatment Procedures?
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