In healthcare, physiotherapy has a crucial role in helping patients through their journey of recovery and rehabilitation. Whether it’s regaining full mobility following an injury, optimising physical function, or managing chronic pain, physiotherapy provides a holistic approach to help the patient recover from a wide variety of conditions.
Physiotherapists such as Physio Hub typically use a variety of exercises and techniques to help you recover from injury or surgery and regain full strength, independence, and mobility. Their interventions are designed to suit your personal needs and preferences, to help you achieve your goal in a safe and effective manner.
In this article, we will look at the main role of physiotherapy in rehabilitation, and explore its significance in the recovery process.
What is physiotherapy?
Also referred to as physical therapy, physiotherapy is a field of healthcare focussed on restoring mobility and maintaining proper physical function. It utilises a wide range of exercise and medical techniques to address injuries, disabilities, and impairments. Physiotherapists typically apply evidence-based techniques and approaches to create a personalised treatment plan for the patient.
The main role of physical therapists is to diagnose, safeguard, and treat human mobility problems. They also help individuals whose movement or physical abilities have been compromised due to a variety of factors, including injuries, ageing, medical conditions, illnesses, or environmental factors. Physiotherapists help these patients to alleviate pain, enhance their physical wellbeing, and regain their full mobility and flexibility.
Physiotherapy in Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation typically entails processes designed to help a patient recover from an injury or illness, and regain full mobility and independence. In many cases, rehabilitation is a multi-disciplinary approach that essentially integrates several healthcare professionals, including physicians, psychologists, physiotherapists, speech therapists, and occupational therapists.
The main aim of rehabilitation is to address the specific issues the patient is facing, especially ones that are a result of illnesses, injuries, surgery, or disability. A combination of assistive devices, therapeutic interventions, prescription medication, and exercises are used in rehabilitation to help improve the mobility, physical strength, cognitive abilities, coordination, and emotional well-being of the patient.
The Importance of Physiotherapy in Rehabilitation
Improving balance, strength, and mobility
Some injuries or illnesses might impair your mobility and strength in the affected area or body part. The normal response is the body to defend the trauma area, which will often result in tissue and muscle tightness, spasms, oedema, and a reduced range of motion.
Physical therapy is effective at helping you gain mobility in the problem area, such as through strengthening exercises and movement. Workouts designed to strengthen muscles in the back, core, and pelvis may help boost balance and stability, which can be very effective at helping you make a full recovery and regain full mobility.
Pain management
Physiotherapy is also highly effective in managing pain associated with various conditions and illnesses. A combination of therapeutic exercises, manual therapy, and modalities like cold and heat therapy can essentially target the problem areas and help alleviate the pain and improve comfort. Physiotherapy helps to improve muscle flexibility and strength in the problem area, which goes a long way in enhancing healing and reducing pain.
Reduces inflammation
Inflammation is a common condition following trauma or surgery, since it’s a normal aspect of the healing process. Physiotherapy can help reduce swelling in the affected area, which helps to improve the rate of healing and enhance mobility, both of which also helps to improve the overall comfort.
The exercises and mobility training is done under strict supervision of a trained physiotherapist, and when done in combination with other aspects of rehabilitation, can prevent chronic pain and discomfort for the patient.
Prevents subsequent injuries
Physiotherapy not only helps in recovery, but also has a crucial role in helping you avoid further injuries. Physiotherapists will essentially identify any postural issues, biomechanical imbalances, and movement dysfunctions, and then develop your personalised exercise programs and treatment plan that reduce the risk of recurrent injuries.
Such levels of targeted interventions will help you improve your movement patterns faster, and it will be easier to adopt strategies that minimise the possibility of future injuries or setbacks.
Minimises the formation of scar tissue
The formation of scar tissue is a normal part of the natural healing process. Scarring can result just about anywhere on the body, and the scar tissue can affect mobility. A physiotherapist can use various tissue mobilisation techniques such as ultrasound and massage therapy to help limit the formation of scar tissue.
Providing psychological support
Rehabilitation is a journey that can easily become mentally and emotionally taxing. Physiotherapists focus on both the physical and emotional aspects of recovery, to help you recover effectively. By providing empathetic motivation and communication techniques, physiotherapy helps you to go through the rehabilitation process with a positive mindset. This can help promote your mental well-being.
Closing Thoughts
Physiotherapy certainly has a vital role in the rehabilitation process. Through pain management, reducing inflammation, and supporting your psychological help, physiotherapy helps make the rehabilitation process more comprehensive, thereby enhancing the healing process, and your quality of life.
