Sometimes, doctors recommend treatment through physiotherapy, which is one of the rehabilitation methods, with the aim of reducing pain and improving patients’ performance in daily life and work activities. In such a situation, the doctor examines the patient and, based on the type of his problem, determines the treatment method and required devices and the number of treatment sessions and refers him to physiotherapy. As Kasra Mirhosseini explains, physiotherapy services are most commonly used in spine disorders, especially neck and back discs, muscle spasms around the spine, and joint diseases such as arthritis and rheumatism.
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What Is The Definition of This Medical Science?
Physiotherapy is usually done to reduce pain, increase joint range of motion, strengthen muscles and improve balance. This treatment has also a significant impact in central and peripheral nervous diseases, including MS, cerebral palsy, stroke, etc. In these mentioned cases, the muscles become weak or stiff and need to be strengthened, relaxed or coordinated. Of course, in some cases, in addition to the nervous-motor system, some internal organs, such as the heart and lungs, also require physiotherapy services. For example, in lung diseases, the exercises taught by the physiotherapist can improve the breathing pattern and discharge secretions from the lungs and respiratory tracts.
Factors Affecting the Result of Physiotherapy Treatments
One of the factors affecting the result of physiotherapy treatment is the type of injury and its severity. Since the effectiveness of physiotherapy varies in different diseases and stages, it is impossible to do the same type of physiotherapy for everyone. Physiotherapy should be prescribed by a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist, orthopedic or spine surgeon.
Sometimes patients do physiotherapy arbitrarily. Besides, the physiotherapist may not act according to the doctor’s order and use some devices and movements less or more than necessary. These are wrong actions.
In arbitrary physiotherapy, a person does not get the desired result or even suffers from lesions that make the treatment process more difficult. Therefore, the correct diagnosis of the disease, the appropriate time of physiotherapy, the type and intensity sufficient for the patient, the number of treatment sessions and their intervals, and care during and after physiotherapy are very effective in treatment. Another important point is to avoid activities that lead to re-injury of the organ. Managing daily activities to reduce the pressure on the affected part and performing therapeutic exercises by the patient at home also helps in better treatment results.
It is worth stating that the patient’s pain may increase slightly during the first few sessions of physiotherapy, which is usually temporary and resolves. There should always be a close relationship between the patient, the doctor and the physiotherapist. And any changes in symptoms should be reported to the doctor. Changing the treatment or using another complementary method at different stages may be necessary.
In fact, complementary therapies are performed by a physiotherapist specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation, which can include manipulation (manual placement and treatment), injections around and inside the joint, acupuncture, the use of orthosis and medical prostheses, etc.
According to most professional physiotherapists, when people are in the rehabilitation stages, they should avoid any movement that leads to severe pain because it is a sign of excessive pressure on the damaged organ, although mild pain during movement therapy is normal and does not cause a problem. However, they should consult their physiotherapist again if the pain is severe.