Many people have injuries that require expert treatment, but going to see your local GP is not the way to have them treated. They may prescribe you some powerful painkillers, or advise you to start wearing support clothing that helps to reduce movement in the affected area, but the ideal solution is to see a physiotherapist for treatment that is not only affordable, but which will treat the source of the injury or problem.
What Do Physiotherapists Do?
A physiotherapist treats a wide range of soft tissue and musculoskeletal problems. For example, it is a fact that many people over the age of 40 suffer from either acute or chronic back problems. In many cases, the source of this pain and discomfort is simply attributed to unknown causes by many GPs. In some cases, the person may even undergo painful back surgery to fix the problem. This is not only risky, but can make the problem worse.
A trained physiotherapist will evaluate the problem by seeing the pain and discomfort in the wider context of how the entire muscular and skeletal systems work and interact. Back pain, while mysterious to others, can be caused by things as varied as poor posture, sports injury, weight, and gait problems. A physiotherapist evaluates the entirety of the muscular, skeletal, and nervous systems and comes up with a treatment plan based on their findings.
Treatment Plans for Those Suffering from Pain and Discomfort
Typically, physiotherapists treat the following ailments:
- Posture: Many people suffer from poor posture that can affect their back and other areas. Poor posture may be the cause of aches and pains in other parts of the body, and it is not uncommon for certain nerves to become compressed and affect the extremities. Postural correction is a very common treatment offered by p
- Soft tissue: Soft tissue injuries are very common. For example, many people who play sports suffer soft tissue injuries. While many of them are self-limiting and simply require rest, chronic recurrences in the same area or acute cases certainly warrant an evaluation and treatment by a trained p
In many cases, a Cockburn Physio treatment plan will involve massage, stretching exercises, strengthening exercises, and ongoing core strengthening exercises, such as Pilates. Some physiotherapists will also offer acupuncture if they are trained to do so, and this can be of great benefit in terms of allowing the muscles to release toxins.
In all cases, the aim of the physio is to treat the injury or condition in a way that enables the patient to live a fuller life. For people suffering from sports injuries, this may simply be a case of recovering fully from their soft tissue ailment, but for the elderly person who is suffering from a wide range of chronic problems, the goal is to improve quality of life. In some cases, Pilates or aqua therapy may be introduced by the physio in order to improve core strength and take weight off of inflamed joints.
If you are suffering from a soft tissue injury, recurring back or joint pain, postural problems, or other ailments related to your musculoskeletal system, it is a good idea to call your local physiotherapist and book an appointment.
