Everyone is aware about the benefits of physiotherapy. Most people have a general idea of what physiotherapy is and how it can help. However, many people don’t know that there are different types of physiotherapy. You may think that physiotherapy is just about fixing any type of body pain. Yes, physiotherapy deals with pain and helps reduce it in the long run, but there are also other great benefits of physiotherapy.
Physiotherapy deals with different health issues and injuries across all age groups. In this article, we will discuss various types of physiotherapy and how it can help people dealing with different health issues.
Let’s see the main types of physiotherapy and their advantages:
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy
Musculoskeletal physiotherapy, also known as orthopedic physiotherapy, deals with the treatment and restoration of any ailments related to the musculoskeletal system. The musculoskeletal system is made up of bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. Any type of neck or back pain, fractures, injuries, or sprains related to these areas are treated under this type of physiotherapy.
A physiotherapist can help diagnose and treat any musculoskeletal injuries or ailments to improve mobilization and flexibility. Treatments include stretching and balance exercises, cryotherapy, spine manipulation techniques, ice, and heat therapy, etc. Physiotherapists will recommend various at-home exercises to help in the healing process.
Main benefits include:
- Improving mobility
- Treat pain
- Treat injuries
- Deal with issues related to PMS and prenatal care
- Treating soft tissue damage
Pediatric Physiotherapy
Pediatric physiotherapy provides services to infants and children. Physiotherapists focus on providing assessment and treatments to help children with mobility, balance, flexibility, coordination, core stability and more. It focuses on improving the growth and development in children. This type of physiotherapy also helps deal with issues like muscle diseases, birth defects, developmental delays, cerebral palsy and more.
Pediatric therapy can help children improve their development both mentally and physically.
Here are some of the benefits of this type of physiotherapy:
- Treating any congenital disabilities, genetic disorders, or developmental delays
- Improve motor skills
- Help with posture, gait, balance
- Develop strength and endurance
Geriatric Physiotherapy
Geriatric physiotherapy provides services to older adults who are going through the aging process. With aging the body’s metabolism begins to slow down which can cause several problems. This therapy can be important in maintaining health as we age. Geriatric physiotherapy can be useful in helping people maintain flexibility and reduce the chances of injuries in later years.
This type of physiotherapy is also useful in treating age-related disorders like arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, and loss of mobility. It includes treatments to improve mobility, alleviate pain and restore overall health.
Here are some advantages of this physiotherapy:
- Restoring strength, endurance, and mobility
- Treating chronic pain
- Improving posture
- Dealing with age-related ailments
Neurological Physiotherapy
Neurological physiotherapy helps in dealing with conditions related to the nervous system. This type of physiotherapy helps deal with stroke, head and spinal cord injuries, diseases like Parkinson’s disease, sciatica, multiple sclerosis etc. Effects from these conditions can lead to paralysis, lack of sensation, tremor etc. Neurological physiotherapy can bring mobility and improve functions of patients suffering from these physical impairments.
Here are some advantages of neurological physiotherapy:
- Build strength and coordination
- Improve motor function
- Increase sensation
- Recovery after brain surgery
Cardio-respiratory Physiotherapy
Cardio-respiratory physiotherapy is useful for people suffering from diseases of the heart, chest, and lungs. People recovering from COVID-19 can benefit from cardio-respiratory therapy. It can also be useful for people who have asthma, chest infections and trauma. This therapy can help treat several chronic cardiac and respiratory ailments.
Here are some benefits of this therapy:
- Breathing and circulation exercises
- Resistance training
- Helps deal with shortness of breath
- Treat chronic cough
- Rehabilitation for cardiac conditions
Sports Physiotherapy
Sports physiotherapy helps athletes and sports professionals. This type of physiotherapy deals with assessment and treatments of injuries related to sports and exercise. Sports injuries are different from day-to-day injuries. Sports activities have higher demands on the body. Hence, athletes and sports professionals who go through rigorous training need this type of physiotherapy to improve flexibility and avoid serious injuries.
Athletes also commonly get injured often. Sometimes they also must go through surgeries. Physiotherapy can help them recover from such injuries to get their strength and mobility back.
Here are some advantages of sports physiotherapy:
- Prevention of injuries
- Improving flexibility
- Movement assessments
- Healing techniques
Read: If Not Paid Attention To, Sports Injury Can Be A Serious Problem.
Female-centric Physiotherapy
Female-centric physiotherapy deals with the female reproductive system and various issues related to it. This type of physiotherapy helps in providing pre-natal and post-natal care and makes the childbirth process easier. It is also useful in dealing with any fertility issues in women.
This type of physiotherapy helps in the following way:
- Strengthen core
- Helps in the childbirth process
- Control urinary functions
- Strengthen pelvic muscles
- Alleviate pain for pregnant women
Rehabilitation After Surgery
Physiotherapists use highly customized treatments to help people eliminate their pain. They also ensure that the pain does not come back in the future. Physiotherapy also improves flexibility that helps avoid any serious injuries. Another way that physiotherapy helps, is to alleviate pain after surgery. Surgeries can cause intense pain and affect the body in various ways.
Physiotherapy helps individuals cope with post-surgery pain and makes the recovery process easier. This is especially useful for people who have issues with any sports related injury. Physiotherapists also help with pre-surgery by focusing on exercises to strengthen the body and reduce damages so that the recovery process is easier.
Vestibular Rehabilitation
Vestibular rehabilitation focuses on the rehabilitation of the body's balance and reduces any dizziness-related issues. This dizziness related issues can be lightheadedness, unsteadiness, vertigo, moving sensations, etc. The vestibular physical therapist helps in reducing these problems and improving balance through exercise-based programs.
These dizziness issues can be due to many reasons like inner ear disorder, side effects of any medicines, brain or heart issues, neck dysfunction, etc.
Vestibular rehabilitation can help with the following symptoms:
- Dizziness
- Vertigo and imbalance
- Headaches
- Frequent falls
- Blurry vision
Physiotherapy plays a key role in treating so many different health issues that people face from all age-groups. It is a great method to heal the body and ensure that those issues don’t crop up again in the future. If you are facing any of the health issues discussed above, you now know which type of therapy can help you.
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