Are you having problems with moving your feet? Do your knees sometimes buckle when you bend them? Does it hurt when you move your neck or other extremities? If that’s the case, then you may need to visit a physiotherapy clinic like Physioactive. This is especially recommended if there is very little improvement in your movement after a week or two, since there may be underlying causes that cannot be healed by your body on its own. It may need some guidance during recovery, such as proper diet and specific exercises that you may have to follow to speed up your body’s natural healing.
Physiotherapy is the science of restoring movement and function to your body parts, specifically when that body part is hindered by an injury, a medical condition, or a disability. Physiotherapy can also be done for the prevention of injuries or illnesses from affecting your movement in the future. Because of the multiple benefits of physiotherapy, it’s no wonder that so many people who experience restricted movement due to an injury or illness find their way into physiotherapy clinics or hospitals that offer physiotherapy.
How exactly can physiotherapy help you?
Physiotherapy focuses on two things – the rehabilitation and restoration of movement to parts of the body that were impeded by an injury, illness or disability, and the prevention and risk reduction of a possible loss or reduction of movement due to these causes. This means that even if you are not experiencing any issues with your movement currently, you can still visit a physiotherapy clinic to not just educate you about things, but also help you prevent the development of some health problems that affect your movement. If you have a relative that’s currently suffering from a loss or reduction of movement, the risk of you developing that same problem increases, and it is generally recommended that you visit a physiotherapy clinic to clear things up.
If you experience any of the following health issues or problems, then a visit to your nearest physiotherapy clinic may do wonders in relieving yourself of these issues:
- Neck pain or back pain due to muscle and/or bone problems
- Arthritis, rheumatism, and other health problems affecting the muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments
- Partial/total disability caused by heart diseases or problems such as a heart attack
- Asthma, cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and other lung or breathing problems
- Loss of movement due to physical trauma to the brain and nervous system, which may be caused by a stroke, or certain diseases like multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease
- Discomfort, pain, swelling, or fatigue due to certain specific treatments
Who can benefit from a visit to a physiotherapy clinic?
Anyone who experiences or has experienced any of the issues stated above can benefit from a physiotherapy clinic visit. There’s really no required age when it comes to movement issues, and physiotherapists are trained to cater and assist in the therapy of different people.
A physiotherapy clinic can offer various services to people:
- of any age or physical ability
- who experience stiffness, discomfort or pain on their joints or muscles
- who have breathing problems or heart disease
- who have had an amputation or traumatic injury
- who have had a recent stroke, or a brain or spinal cord injury
What exactly do physiotherapists do?
Physiotherapists are specially trained individuals who provide physiotherapy services to patients. Physiotherapists often work with other health professionals in a team, so that each team can focus and provide a specialized treatment plan for certain health problems.
During the consultation and treatment, a physiotherapist will first assess the patient’s body as a whole and determine which type of approach would be best suited for the situation. Some of the techniques and approaches utilized by physiotherapists include the following:
- General advice and tips
One way that physiotherapists can help people suffering from mobility issues is by giving good sound advice on the best practices for recovering from these problems. These include good posture, lifting techniques and diets, which are good ways to strengthen your body and prevent future injuries.
- Exercise routines and regulated physical activity
Your physiotherapist will recommend a unique exercise and physical activity routine for you to follow that is tailored especially for you. There are many possible situations and causes for your mobility issues, and expert physiotherapist will create an exercise plan that is focused on your specific goals and expectations. You will be given a gradual entry to the routines, which will be adjusted periodically by your physiotherapist depending on how you respond to it.
- Manual therapy like massages
Your physiotherapist may also perform some manual therapy to help increase flexibility on your joints as well as relieve some pain or discomfort that may be hindering your overall mobility. You may also be asked to periodically perform some inhouse rehabilitation exercises so that your physiotherapist can personally tend to you and observe your recovery.
How does one become a physiotherapist?
People who practice physiotherapy are called physiotherapists. Physiotherapists are trained in university through a 4-year course that aims to equip students with the skills necessary to become a qualified physiotherapist. It is important that before you commit to a certain health professional, you should always check his/her qualifications and that he/she has the documents to prove them. An inexperienced or undertrained physiotherapist may do harm than good, which is why it is very important to do some prior research before committing to a specific physiotherapist or physiotherapy clinic.
What can you expect during a visit to a physiotherapy clinic?
You should expect the following four steps in every physiotherapy clinic visit:
- Assessment
First off, your physiotherapist will ask you questions about your general health history, your overall and specific mobility, pain patterns and other important health information. He/she may also do some tests to check your overall vitals.
- Diagnosis
Now, depending on the results of the assessment, your physiotherapist will provide you with a diagnosis on what could be causing the problem.
- Treatment
A specialized treatment plan will be made for you to address your problem. This can include an exercise routine, a diet plan and medication. You may also be asked to visit regularly for some specific treatments like manual therapy or acupuncture.
- Advice
Lastly, your physiotherapist will give you some general advice on what to do and what not to do during your treatment. You can also ask any questions related to your problem, and make sure you clear up any misunderstandings you may have.
Physioactive
Camden Medical Centre
#11-05 Singapore 248649
6235 2647
