Physiotherapy helps in Pain Management and Cure

Physiotherapy or physical therapy is an allied health profession that focuses on many aspects of healthcare including awareness, prevention, rehabilitation and treatment.

Typically, a person is referred to a physiotherapist when he experiences mobility issues. The physiotherapist will work with the patient and develop a customized plan to manage pain and improve balance and mobility.

A person could be referred to a physiotherapist after some kind of trauma, for post-surgery rehabilitation or for musculoskeletal pain management. Physiotherapists work with patients of all ages – from children to the elderly.

A physiotherapist’s goal is to always improve quality of life for the patient.

The Different Roles of a Physiotherapist

Dealing with Sports Injuries: Physiotherapists help sportspeople with both prevention as well as management of the injuries they sustain on the sporting arena.

• They advice on correct lifestyle practices so as to maintain optimum form.
• They assess the injuries connected with a sport and advice on preventive measures.
• In case an injury does happen, physiotherapists are qualified and skilled to respond appropriately. Often, physiotherapy helps avoid surgery by minimizing pain and restoring mobility.
• They also come up with personalized plans to suit an individual athlete’s requirements.
• Physiotherapists work on an athlete’s posture and advice on the right style of movement so as to minimize injury while jumping, running, stretching, etc.
• Flexibility is another key issue that physiotherapists concentrate on.
• Physiotherapy not only helps in recovery after injury but also leaves a person much stronger than he/she was.
• To summarize, we can say that physiotherapists enhance athletic performance considerably.

Improving Quality of Life for the Elderly: While it is known that physiotherapy helps with regaining mobility after a health condition or some kind of trauma, for the elderly, the objectives of physiotherapy are slightly different.

• Physiotherapy helps elderly people utilize their body functions fully, thus contributing to improved mobility and independence.
• The assessment of the elderly too takes on a different meaning because the effects of aging need to be considered.
• Falls are common as people age. The fear of falling is something all elderly experience. In such a scenario, physiotherapists can help by teaching strengthening and balance exercises.
• Cardiovascular, neurological and musculoskeletal disorders, all present more commonly in the elderly and sometimes even overlap. Hence, physiotherapists take all this into account for the elderly before coming up with a treatment plan.
• Aches and pains which often restrict the elderly are mostly due to bad circulation, joint stiffness and lack of physical activity. Here again, strengthening exercises will help.
• In adverse cases, where mobility proves difficult, physiotherapy can still help by promoting a pain-free life.

Post-Surgery Rehabilitation

• Going through surgery is not easy. Physical and psychological effects post-surgery are common.
• Physiotherapy treatment can benefit those undergoing orthopedic, thoracic, cardiac, neurological and abdominal surgeries.
• Physiotherapy will begin as soon as possible after surgery but it is important to continue it after discharge for as long as the doctor recommends.
• Exercises will be taught to strengthen muscles and promote mobility which will in turn improve blood circulation and will prevent conditions like chest infections and blood clot formation.
• Psychologically, it will improve a person’s confidence and help him/her return to a normal, independent life.
• Exercise plans will be tailor made to suit individual patients who will be given long-term and short-term goals to achieve.

Recovery from Accidents

• Physiotherapy treatment plays an important role in managing and overcoming pain that is the result of any kind of trauma.
• Physiotherapists will assess the patient’s condition and come up with the best treatment plan for recovery.
• The exercises taught will speed up the body’s natural healing mechanism.
• Physiotherapists will first educate the patients about the condition and involve them in their treatment.
• They will then go on to teach exercises to improve mobility and will also use a variety of therapies (massage therapy, heat treatment, etc.) according to the situation.
• By teaching proper body posture, they help patients overcome one of the most common reasons for pain.
• It is always better to start physiotherapy as soon as possible after an accident to increase the patient’s chances of living a pain-free life.

Chronic Diseases

Physiotherapy treatment helps to prevent and manage many chronic conditions. Studies have shown that exercises not only help individuals who have been diagnosed with chronic conditions maintain fitness, but they also negate risk-factors that could lead to further complications.

Given below are three of the many chronic conditions that can benefit from physiotherapy.

• Stroke:

1. Often, people surviving a stroke are left with debilitating side-effects.
2. Physiotherapists in this case help not just with pain management and regaining mobility, but they will also teach the patients how to manage a lifelong disability; they will explain correct usage of assistive devices and will strive to make the patient as independent as possible.

• Arthritis:

1. All patients affected with arthritis benefit from physiotherapy.
2. Here, the goal of physiotherapy is to improve the range of motion of the affected joint, strengthen muscles to support the joint and to keep the patient fit and independent.
3. An orthopaedic physiotherapist will, in addition to teaching exercises, suggest usage of supportive devices like braces and splints if necessary and will also recommend orthotics if he/she thinks it might help.
4. The physiotherapist might also suggest ergonomic changes to the patient’s surroundings to improve functionality.

• Cancer:

1. Rehabilitation after cancer treatment reduces the side-effects of cancer treatment. It shortens hospital stay and improves patient well-being. Depending on the prognosis, rehabilitation can be of various types.
2. Restorative rehab wherein the physiotherapy treatment concentrates on improving functionality and helps overcome any impairment that is a result of cancer treatment.
3. Supportive rehab which focuses on maximizing body functions within the limitations the patient faces.
4. Palliative rehab which focuses on the side-effects of cancer treatment like muscle deconditioning, pressure sores, etc.

Kauvery Hospital is globally known for its multidisciplinary services at all its Centers of Excellence, and for its comprehensive, Avant-Grade technology, especially in diagnostics and remedial care in heart diseases, transplantation, vascular and neurosciences medicine. Located in the heart of Trichy (Tennur, Royal Road and Alexandria Road (Cantonment), Chennai, Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli and Bengaluru, the hospital also renders adult and pediatric trauma care.

Chennai – 044 4000 6000 • Trichy – Cantonment – 0431 4077777 • Trichy – Heartcity – 0431 4003500 • Trichy – Tennur – 0431 4022555 • Hosur – 04344 272727 • Salem – 0427 2677777 • Tirunelveli – 0462 4006000 • Bengaluru – 080 6801 6801