What Is Physiotherapy?

Not too long ago, I was working on my chiropractor’s website. One of the pages I did was about “physiotherapy.” I asked him what the difference was between physiotherapy and physical therapy, because they didn’t look any different. He told me they were the same thing, but only a physical therapist can provide physical therapy, so everyone else has to use the term “physiotherapy.”

I guess it’s kind of like Champagne — only sparkling wine from Champagne can call itself Champagne.

Anyway, if you spend much time at a computer, which most writers do, there will probably come a time that you’ll need physiotherapy. So I thought I’d spend a moment explaining what it is.

A type of health care, physiotherapy concerns itself with providing physical healing methods for many different kinds of musculo-skeletal injuries and illnesses. Some of these techniques are done in a hands-on manner, by using massage or manipulation of the musculo-skeletal system.

Education is a key component of physiotherapy. A physiotherapist will teach you how to care for your injuries. He or she will teach you exercises to do at home so that therapy can continue beyond the walls of the clinic or hospital. He or she will also teach you ways to overcome difficulties that cannot be cured.

Rehabilitation is another key component of physiotherapy. Patients who have injuries from sports, car accidents, or assault will need to get back to as close to their original condition as possible. Many of the in injuries caused this way can be treated through physiotherapy. Given the right treatments and an injury that will respond to treatment, much progress can be made.

So what kind of treatments are included in physiotherap? Heat, ice, and ultrasound are used to relieve pain and stiffness. Massage, chiropractic, and other hands-on methods are used to help the musculo-skeletal system repair itself. All these methods tend to promote better health, both physical and psychological.

Physiotherapy often uses equipment to help patients regain their strength and mobility. This equipment may allow a person who is partially paralyzed to get the most exercise possible. This is crucial in maintaining the integrity of the spine and muscles.

So, after all this, what is physiotherapy? It is a carefully planned and executed treatment strategy. It is based upon assessments of the patient’s condition. If all goes well, the patient will return to his or her original condition. If this is not possible, the goal is for the patient to reach a goal that is the best movement and lack of pain that is possible.

Physiotherapy also has preventative side. It can be a part of your daily, weekly or monthly self-maintenance. An excellent physiotherapist will have fewer return patients, because the patients will leave his or her office knowing how to care for themselves.