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Physiotherapy: The healthy alternative to pain and disability management
By Dr Zulfikar Bux
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
Dr. Zulfikar Bux,
Sometimes, using medication is not the real answer to persons affected by disability or pain. It is often difficult to convince patients that their condition will benefit from physiotherapy and not medication. Today I will highlight the importance of physiotherapy and help you understand that using medication is not always the answer.
WHAT IS PHYSIOTHERAPY?
Physiotherapy helps to restore movement and function when someone is affected by injury, illness or disability. It can also help to reduce your risk of injury or illness in the future. It takes a holistic approach that tends to involve the patient directly in their own care. It is performed by trained professionals called physiotherapists who will help improve injuries, illnesses or disabilities with specialized exercises and procedures.
WHEN IS PHYSIOTHERAPY USED?
Physiotherapy can be helpful for people of all ages with a wide range of health conditions, including problems affecting the:
• Bones, joints and soft tissue – such as back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain and sports injuries
• Brain or nervous system – such as movement problems resulting from a stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS) or Parkinson’s disease
• Heart and circulation – such as rehabilitation after a heart attack
• lungs and breathing – such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis
• Physiotherapy can improve your physical activity while helping you to prevent further injuries.
WHO ARE PHYSIOTHERAPISTS?
Physiotherapy is provided by specially trained and regulated practitioners called physiotherapists. Physiotherapists often work as part of a multidisciplinary team in various areas of medicine and settings, including:
• Hospitals
• Health centres or clinics
• Post-surgery units
• Some sports teams, clubs, charities and workplaces
• Some physiotherapists can also offer home visits.
They consider the body as a whole, rather than just focusing on the individual aspects of an injury or illness.
WHAT TYPE OF TECHNIQUES DO PHYSIOTHERAPISTS USE?
Physiotherapists use different approaches to help you condition. It may involve one or more of the following:
• Education and advice – physiotherapists can give general advice about things that can affect your daily lives, such as posture and correct lifting or carrying techniques to help prevent injuries
• Movement, tailored exercise and physical activity advice – exercises may be recommended to improve your general health and mobility, and to strengthen specific parts of your body
• Manual therapy – where the physiotherapist uses their hands to help relieve pain and stiffness, and to encourage better movement of the body
• There are other techniques that may sometimes be used, such as exercises carried out in water (hydrotherapy or aquatic therapy) or acupuncture.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF PHYSIOTHERAPY?
Depending on the reason for treatment, the benefits of physical therapy include:
• Pain management with reduced need for opioids
• Avoiding surgery
• Improved mobility and movement
• Recovery from injury or trauma
• Recovery from stroke or paralysis
• Fall prevention
• Improved balance
• Management of age-related medical problems
A sports therapist can help an athlete to maximize their performance through strengthening specific parts of the body and using muscles in new ways.
If you, or someone you know, is suffering from unresolved pains or disability, ask your doctor if physiotherapy may be right for you.
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