Physical Therapy – What is it?
Physical therapy can be defined as a treatment method required during times when it becomes really hard to move around and conduct day to day tasks. It relieves pain and restores physical function and overall fitness level.
Apart from facilitating daily tasks and activities, physical therapy helps with recovery after certain types of surgeries. The therapy may be used alone or in combination with other treatments.
Types of Physical Therapy
Manual Therapy
This is a hands-on approach prescribed for any injury. It refers to employment of some common tactics such as massage, stretching, massage, and strengthening exercises with an aim to re-educate the body into appropriate movement and mechanics. According to most physical therapists, manual therapy is a primary technique for removing movement restrictions. It also helps patients move better. It is basically the major part of any treatment plan, such as the electric stimulation and ice.
Heat
Application of heat has revealed to help with a decrease in pain and boost mobility after certain type of injuries such as those involving soft tissue (tendons, muscles, and ligaments). Muscular spasms and tightness are best treated with heat therapies. The therapist focusses on making the tissue more pliable and help stretch the affected area.
Ice
Ice packs are usually prescribed for injuries involving swelling and inflammation. It helps in constricting blood vessels post application. It works as an effective way to decrease and prevent inflammation instantly after an injury. Usually, a cold therapy works towards enhancing mobility of joints and ensuring maximum benefits out of a manual therapy. Cold packs are usually recommended to be applied on inflamed areas to decrease swelling in injuries of soft tissue.
Ultrasound
The physical therapy treatment is best recommended for injuries related to connective tissue. The therapist uses sound waves which are undetectable to the human ear. These are allowed to generate heat deep inside the body. This kind of therapy facilitates loosening up of tissues in while preparing patients for an exercise or manual therapy. A wand is used by therapists for application of sound waves safely and directly to the skin. This process expedites healing of the ligament.
Traction
The therapy works best on disc herniation. The human spine is always working. It bears body weight every minute making any kind of recovery from back pain a difficult process. Traction separates the vertebrae to facilitate room for the nerves and low compression on disc cartilage. It decreases pain and enhances quality of life for those with herniated lumbar disc.
Low-Level Laser
Laser therapy makes use of specific light wavelengths to stimulate healing. The laser goes under the skin helps reduce pain, inflammation, and muscle fatigue. The best therapy is prescribed for injuries of muscle or connective tissue. It helps the therapist to move the affected joint causing less discomfort.
Functional Electrical Stimulation
This kind of stimulation is recommended for restoring muscular strength. Also referred to as ESTIM, electrical stimulation is prescribed as a common treatment option to restore muscular function after a traumatic injury. The physical therapists apply a minor yet very steady electrical stimulus to facilitate contractions of muscles that usually remain dormant. This results in restoration of proper movement and function at a faster pace. Although the therapy may not restore movement in all cases, studies have revealed that it can actually speed up recovery after total knee replacement surgery within a period of some weeks. It is also deemed as an effective treatment option for hemiplegic patients (one side of the body paralysed). These patients can be treated by restoring function.
Exercise
Exercise is one of the most under-rated, yet highly effective of all physical therapies if followed regularly and in the right manner. The idea is to make it a part of your day to day life. It is helpful in treating and preventing pain. However, when it comes to physical therapy, these are more than just routine exercises that we do. The specialists hand-pick these to help patients move better. The prescribed exercises work towards strengthening targeted muscles and addressing all kinds of muscular imbalances in the body. Most physical therapists instruct their patients on making exercise a regular activity as injuries may recur from a sedentary and repetitive lifestyle. Consistency will keep you away from all kinds of nagging aches and pains. Exercises are recommended by physical therapists for maintaining good health after treatment.
Physical therapy can be defined as a treatment method required during times when it becomes really hard to move around and conduct day to day tasks. It relieves pain and restores physical function and overall fitness level.
Apart from facilitating daily tasks and activities, physical therapy helps with recovery after certain types of surgeries. The therapy may be used alone or in combination with other treatments.
Types of Physical Therapy
Manual Therapy
This is a hands-on approach prescribed for any injury. It refers to employment of some common tactics such as massage, stretching, massage, and strengthening exercises with an aim to re-educate the body into appropriate movement and mechanics. According to most physical therapists, manual therapy is a primary technique for removing movement restrictions. It also helps patients move better. It is basically the major part of any treatment plan, such as the electric stimulation and ice.
Heat
Application of heat has revealed to help with a decrease in pain and boost mobility after certain type of injuries such as those involving soft tissue (tendons, muscles, and ligaments). Muscular spasms and tightness are best treated with heat therapies. The therapist focusses on making the tissue more pliable and help stretch the affected area.
Ice
Ice packs are usually prescribed for injuries involving swelling and inflammation. It helps in constricting blood vessels post application. It works as an effective way to decrease and prevent inflammation instantly after an injury. Usually, a cold therapy works towards enhancing mobility of joints and ensuring maximum benefits out of a manual therapy. Cold packs are usually recommended to be applied on inflamed areas to decrease swelling in injuries of soft tissue.
Ultrasound
The physical therapy treatment is best recommended for injuries related to connective tissue. The therapist uses sound waves which are undetectable to the human ear. These are allowed to generate heat deep inside the body. This kind of therapy facilitates loosening up of tissues in while preparing patients for an exercise or manual therapy. A wand is used by therapists for application of sound waves safely and directly to the skin. This process expedites healing of the ligament.
Traction
The therapy works best on disc herniation. The human spine is always working. It bears body weight every minute making any kind of recovery from back pain a difficult process. Traction separates the vertebrae to facilitate room for the nerves and low compression on disc cartilage. It decreases pain and enhances quality of life for those with herniated lumbar disc.
Low-Level Laser
Laser therapy makes use of specific light wavelengths to stimulate healing. The laser goes under the skin helps reduce pain, inflammation, and muscle fatigue. The best therapy is prescribed for injuries of muscle or connective tissue. It helps the therapist to move the affected joint causing less discomfort.
Functional Electrical Stimulation
This kind of stimulation is recommended for restoring muscular strength. Also referred to as ESTIM, electrical stimulation is prescribed as a common treatment option to restore muscular function after a traumatic injury. The physical therapists apply a minor yet very steady electrical stimulus to facilitate contractions of muscles that usually remain dormant. This results in restoration of proper movement and function at a faster pace. Although the therapy may not restore movement in all cases, studies have revealed that it can actually speed up recovery after total knee replacement surgery within a period of some weeks. It is also deemed as an effective treatment option for hemiplegic patients (one side of the body paralysed). These patients can be treated by restoring function.
Exercise
Exercise is one of the most under-rated, yet highly effective of all physical therapies if followed regularly and in the right manner. The idea is to make it a part of your day to day life. It is helpful in treating and preventing pain. However, when it comes to physical therapy, these are more than just routine exercises that we do. The specialists hand-pick these to help patients move better. The prescribed exercises work towards strengthening targeted muscles and addressing all kinds of muscular imbalances in the body. Most physical therapists instruct their patients on making exercise a regular activity as injuries may recur from a sedentary and repetitive lifestyle. Consistency will keep you away from all kinds of nagging aches and pains. Exercises are recommended by physical therapists for maintaining good health after treatment.
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