The Many Benefits of Physiotherapy
1. Eliminate or Reduce Pain
One of the primary benefits often cited for doing physiotherapy is to decrease or eliminate pain. Specialized exercises, combined with manual therapeutic techniques involving mobilization, and joint and soft tissue treatment (such as electrical stimulation) can be highly effective at reducing, eliminating and preventing the return of pain.
2. Enhance Mobility and Restore Function
No matter your age or condition, individuals experiencing difficulty with physical activities such as moving around and walking, or even difficulty standing, may benefit from physiotherapy. Custom tailored regimens of specific strengthening and stretching exercises can restore function, enhance joint stabilization and improve muscle quality and strength.
3. Avoid or be Better Prepared for Surgery
Working in tandem with your doctors, physiotherapists may be able to help you first explore a non-surgical approach to recovery. In some cases, PT can eliminate the need for surgery altogether. In others, it can prepare the body for going under the knife, helping you recover faster after surgery.
4. Improve Balance and Coordination
One of the major causes of accidents and injuries is due to falls or physical injury due to loss of balance or improper coordination. Physiotherapists can screen you for risk from falls, accurately assessing your balance, stabilizing musculature and coordination. During therapeutic sessions, your physical therapist will be able to mimic real-world situations you may encounter, but in a safe place. These situations can uncover opportunities to explore exercises and stretching protocols that can help you improve.
5. Prevent or Recover from a Sports Injury
Sports injuries are a very common occurrence among those active in the community, and are commonly dealt with in PT settings. PTs have a deep understanding of musculoskeletal systems and body mechanics, as well as associated injuries common to certain sports (such as stress fractures for marathon runners). They can help to plan a prevention or recovery program designed to get you back in the game quickly and safely.
6. Age-Related Issues
As we age, osteoarthritis and other conditions become a more common reality. From joint replacement recovery programs to managing arthritic pain, PTs can help.
