Most of us are accustomed to visiting our General Practitioner when we have a cold, virus, or other problem. We may not enjoy the visit, but it is something that needs to be done every once in a while. For some issues, like back pain, it may be necessary to see a specialist in order to find treatment. This is where a trained and experienced physiotherapist can help!
What Does A Physiotherapist Do?
Physiotherapists are specialists in treating a wide variety of musculo-skeletal conditions. They understand the biomechanics of the human body, how it moves, and the role that our ligaments, muscles, tendons, and skeletons play in this activity. This means that they can treat many physical and neurological conditions, including:
- People who are suffering from sports injuries, including soft tissue injuries
- People with debilitating conditions, such as multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy, where alleviating cramps and improving movement is essential
- Children with asthma and bronchial conditions where gentle exercises improve lung capacity and breathing difficulties
- Those with acute and chronic back and neck problems
What Does Treatment Consist of?
A trained physio in Bicton and elsewhere will tailor a treatment program specific to the patient, taking into account their mobility, their age, physical condition, and ailment. In fact, one of the most common complaints of people over the age of forty is recurrent back pain. This pain may have a physical cause, such as a ruptured disc, but in many cases, the specific cause is mysterious.
No matter what the problem is, a physiotherapist will tailor an appropriate treatment program that may include the following:
- Manual therapy: One of the most common treatments, this includes stretching exercises, massage therapy, joint manipulation, and spinal therapies. This is useful for a wide range of common conditions, and is also a core therapy for many athletes and sports people who are in rehabilitation from acute and chronic injury.
- Acupuncture: Not quite as common, acupuncture is recognised as a legitimate form of treatment because it helps parts of the body to release toxins. This treatment is only offered by physio practitioners who are specifically trained in it.
- Core strength training: A common inclusion in many physiotherapist directed exercise programs is core strength training. By including a gentle program of Pilates, for example, many physiotherapists seek to train and strengthen the core muscle groups. This is especially effective for those with back pain, neck pain, and people with sports injuries.
- Rehabilitation: For people who have suffered a stroke, seeing a physio on a regular basis can provide real relief. In many cases, stroke sufferers have lost movement in certain parts of the body or movement has been decreased. A physiotherapy program that may include Pilates, stretching, and aqua therapy seeks to improve mobility, movement, and relieve conditions like neuropathy and cramps.
Whether you have back pain, neck pain, an inherited illness, or injury, seeing a trained physio can transform your life. In many cases, the treatment provided by these professionals can alleviate and treat a wide range of physical and neurological conditions successfully.
