With care, most injuries may recover completely without extra input. When it comes to a safe and speedy recovery, even the mildest injury will see the importance of physiotherapy, or physical therapy.
Mention physical therapy and some cartoonists draw up images of a patient in terrible pain while the therapist is attempting to move his or her leg into an impossible position. While this seems a bit daunting, and may be over imagining on the cartoonist’s part, joint mobility and manipulation is only one method that works and shows the importance of physiotherapy.
When an injury occurs, some people prefer to take an aspirin, or other pain-relieving drug, in hopes it will dull the pain. This is fine as long as it is a one time problem and not a reoccurring one. This is when the importance of physiotherapy comes into play. For instance, people suffering from back pain, whether just once, or continually, may find quicker relief and recovery through the addition of massage, traction, simple exercise and stretches, and heat therapies. Certain back conditions require the patient to use any of these treatments to prevent the muscles from losing elasticity and stiffening, especially after laying down for long periods at a time.
Beyond relief after an injury, prevention is also stressed as an important part of physiotherapy. Health care professionals stress tucking in the pelvis and bending at the knees instead of the waist to protect the back when lifting heavy objects.
Patients with chronic respiratory illnesses, or disorders whom are unable to breathe and use their lungs without aid know the importance of physiotherapy. Coughing, turning, vibration, and clapping techniques are all used in chest physiotherapy to prevent, or force bacteria filled mucus from blocking air passages. These techniques are used on infants, children and adults.
The importance of physiotherapy extends to patients with injuries to do automobile accidents. Neck and shoulder pain, stiffness, dizziness, pain or numbness in the arm or hand, blurred vision and ringing in the ear are all symptoms of whiplash, a condition that can happen in a vehicle, or sports accident. Physiotherapy is often recommended as the first treatment for mild forms of whiplash. Generally, it is required after two weeks or more for more serious whiplash instances.
In the past, doctors and institutions didn’t always recognize physiotherapy. This is partly due to available medications and the growing trend of pharmacies. Though today there is an occasional debate over the importance of physiotherapy more patients and health professionals look to it to aid current treatments with safer recovery rates.