Have you ever pulled a muscle and had to visit a physiotherapist to treat it? Physiotherapy, also known as physical therapy, is beneficial in many ways! Generally, physiotherapy helps restore movement and function when a person is injured or disabled, and it is suitable for people of all ages. Physiotherapists usually perform a combination of hands-on manual and exercise-based techniques to help patients achieve the best results, such as improved range of motion and flexibility.
Some of the health problems that physiotherapy can help include:
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Bones, joints, and soft tissue – for example: back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, and sports injuries.
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Brain or nervous system – for example: movement issues resulting from a stroke or Parkinson’s disease.
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Heart and circulation – such as rehabilitation after a heart attack.
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Lungs and breathing – such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis.
Other than these, physical therapy encompasses a wider range of varieties and benefits. There are several specific kinds of physiotherapy that serve different purposes. Here are 5 types of physiotherapy that you may not know!
Sports physiotherapy
This branch specifically deals with sport athletes and professionals, assessing and treating sports injuries at all levels. The main goal is to ensure that the athletes are not in pain anymore and are in their best condition, supporting their athletic performance and their overall health development.
Rehabilitation and pain management
Physiotherapy can help patients manage and get rid of various body aches and pains. The treatment methods are typically personalized to cater to specific patient needs and requirements.
Musculoskeletal physiotherapy
This type of physical therapy deals with pain experienced throughout the musculoskeletal system, which consists of the muscles, joints, bones, ligaments, and tendons. The purpose of the treatment is to increase mobilization, relieve pain, manage injuries, treat soft tissue damage, improve flexibility, and decrease the risks of getting injuries in the future.
Paediatric physiotherapy
If you have infants, toddlers, children, and adolescents who experience neuromuscular, developmental, or skeletal disorders, paediatric physiotherapy is the answer you need! The treatment techniques basically aim to enable children to move around freely and participate in the day-to-day activities, but physical therapy may also alleviate pain, improve fine and gross motor skills in children, help them regain range of motion & strength, and facilitate better cognitive processes.
Vestibular rehabilitation
Vestibular rehabilitation is an exercise-based program to improve balance and reduce dizziness-related problems. Signs of dizziness include: feelings of unsteadiness, being lightheaded, floating, tilting, sensations of moving and whirling (vertigo). Before the treatment plan is developed, a few tests must be conducted, such as balance, leg strength/flexibility, gait (the way an individual walks), neck mobility, neck & arm strength, visual stability & mobility, and positional testing (including an inner ear exam). The goal of your treatment plan is therefore to improve any deficits that were identified through the tests and the overall function of the body.
