Physiotherapy

Physiotherapists are primary healthcare professionals who provide physical therapy services. The role of physiotherapy includes rehabilitation, promoting health, injury prevention and treatment of injury and disease. Physiotherapists have years of training and in depth knowledge of the body and how it works. They use their hands-on clinical skills to assess, diagnose and treat symptoms of injury, illness or disability.

Physiotherapy defined

Physiotherapy is defined as the treatment method which focuses on the science of movement. Restoring, maintaining and maximizing physical strength, function, motion and general health are the focuses of physiotherapy.

What to expect at a physiotherapy appointment?

A physiotherapist works with you to explore your abilities and functional needs and to come up with a treatment plan which incorporates current approaches and techniques. At an appointment, you can expect that a physiotherapist may:

• Learn about your medical history
• Assess and diagnose your condition and needs
• Help you to set and meet your physical goals
• Create a customized treatment plan that considers your health, lifestyle and activities
• Prescribe exercises and devices (if needed)

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Many of us participate in recreational sports or even professional sports. Unfortunately, sometimes we get injured. An acute injury occurs suddenly during an activity and is the result of a single traumatic event. There is an obvious link between cause and symptoms and acute injuries also result in macro-trauma to muscle tissue. High contact sports, such as hockey, soccer, basketball and rugby, often result in these injuries. For example, getting a sprained ankle, a strained back, injured knee or a fractured hand. Seeing a physiotherapist helps with the recovery of an acute injury by creating a program to minimize tissue damage, protect from the further injury and to promote faster recovery.

How physiotherapy helps your acute injury

Accurate diagnosis and management of the inflammatory process early on is vital for successful recovery after an injury. Working with a skilled physiotherapist will bring you to the repair phase of recovery sooner and will allow you to return to participating in sports. An assessment with a physiotherapist will provide you with important information about your acute injury.

During an assessment, the physiotherapist will note down your history and history of your injury, perform a physical assessment if the injured area and relevant structures, gather information such as your referral, history, mechanism, sports, imaging, and special tests and assessment. Finally, the physiotherapist will use this information to put together your customized rehabilitation plan. They may also contact your physician and/or refer you to specialists for further diagnostic tests. Once there is an accurate diagnosis, your physiotherapist will guide you through the initiation of the injury management process. You may be asked to use modalities to help minimize the damaging effects of inflammation. Next, you will work towards regaining range of motions and strength by performing prescribed exercises. Whether it is a shoulder, neck, knee or back injury, by following the prescribed exercise program, you will be well on your way to recovery!

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You know the drill – after having chronic pain for months, you consult with your doctor and book a surgery for your injury. You are anxious and spend a lot of time preparing leading up to your surgery. While a surgeon is highly skilled to perform the surgical procedure, what many patients don’t realize is that the operation is only the beginning of their journey to recovery. Physiotherapy rehabilitation post-operation is a vital step to achieving this goal. Physiotherapists are highly skilled healthcare professionals that can help you get back to your normal self by working with you to create and walk you through an individualized after surgery rehabilitation treatment plan.

Physiotherapy services can be prescribed to you by your doctor for and/or after an operation. Orthopaedic surgeries almost certainly require exercise progression to help regain strength, flexibility and function. Consulting with a physiotherapist experienced in post-operation rehab will provide you with the quickest, safest, and easiest way to return to daily activities.

Physiotherapy for surgery rehabilitation

Physiotherapy is a key step to help you in get back to your daily life activities, but you need to put in work in the form of exercises to achieve optimal results. Physiotherapists are musculoskeletal experts who are here to help you improve the way you feel and function. If you are wondering why you should see a physiotherapist, here are some reasons:

1. Promote healing: seeing a physiotherapist will ensure proper healing following a surgery, minimize scar tissues, retain muscle after a major surgery, and more. Each patient has unique needs and a physiotherapist will create a customized treatment plan just for you.
2. Regain mobility: surgeries in the lower extremities, such as knees and hips, require physiotherapy services to help you improve your mobility. This is important to get back to activities such as gardening, walking, jogging and running. Physiotherapists are trained in the stages of healing and will ensure to create a program to prevent injuries and to promote the fastest recovery time. In addition, the physiotherapist will check for any injury in the joints and muscles near the trouble area.
3. Faster recovery: a physiotherapist will help you recover much more quickly than leaving the body to heal on its own. In fact, it has been shown that patients who begin physiotherapy immediately after waking from anesthesia following a joint replacement surgery experience a shorter hospital stay and a faster recovery.
4. You are involved in your own rehab: physiotherapy allows you to actively engage in your own recovery which in turn improves your experiences in rehab. With a physiotherapist, you will determine the best strategies for recovery and how to lead a healthier, more active life. Your physiotherapist can approximate the length of rehab required and the levels of pain to expect in recovery.

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