Physiotherapy clinics are run in GP surgeries, hospitals and as private practices. Some physiotherapists will even come to your home for appointments, but would you know when physiotherapy could benefit you? As a health care profession, physiotherapy employs a range of techniques and treatment styles to restore and maintain physical wellbeing. Physiotherapists often treat musculoskeletal complaints and support patients to take control of their own healing. You can engage in physiotherapy as a standalone treatment or combine physiotherapy with other health care disciplines. Read on to find out about some of the health conditions physiotherapists can treat.
Muscle And Joint Problems
Physiotherapy can be used to treat a range of conditions that affect the muscles and joints, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatica, neck pain and tennis elbow. Your physiotherapist will formulate a treatment plan based on the specific symptoms you are experiencing, but treatment for muscle and joint problems could include gentle manipulations, targeted exercises, supportive braces and the use of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), which is a drug-free temporary pain relief treatment that uses a mild electric current to block pain signals being transmitted from the treatment area to the brain.
Sports Injuries
Physiotherapists are also experienced in treating common sports injuries, such as shin splints, Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis. Sports injuries are often caused by poor technique or putting too much pressure on a specific part of the body, and a physiotherapist can help by assessing your technique and correcting poor posture or positioning to ensure high-impact activities don't cause unnecessary wear and tear to your feet, knees and back. Physiotherapists can also develop an exercise program with you that helps strengthen the part of your body that's experienced an injury, and they can support your recovery by measuring you for custom-made supportive aids, such as orthotic insoles, which can help inflammation come down quickly by altering how weight is distributed across the treatment area.
Respiratory Conditions
The bothersome symptoms of respiratory conditions, such as emphysema and asthma, can be eased with physiotherapy. A physiotherapist can teach you techniques for clearing your lungs and show you breathing exercises that can improve the quality and depth of the inhalations you take and allow you to excrete mucous more effectively. They can also work with you to develop a gentle and supportive exercise program to improve your overall fitness.
If you're dealing with a health condition and wondering if physiotherapy could help you recover or improve your quality of life, contact a physiotherapy clinic in your area for more information.