Over the last few decades, physical fitness programs have experienced a meteoric rise. This trend is driven by the growing health and fitness awareness, as well as the rise in gym culture, Yoga classes, massage therapy and Pilates classes.
Physical fitness is the ability of the body systems to work harmoniously in a way that promotes good health. Many people go through fitness programs for different reasons, maybe to lose weight or to build muscle strength and flexibility or to improve cardio respiratory endurance, among many others.
Unlike regular physical fitness programs that focus on helping healthy individuals stay fit, physiotherapy is primarily focused on helping injured bodies with pain management and rehabilitation. That’s why we’re going to explore the role physiotherapy plays in the fitness world.
What is Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy is the treatment of injury, disorders, and diseases through physical methods like exercise, manipulation and massage, instead of using medication or surgery.
Who is a Physiotherapist?
Although many people think physiotherapists work with back and sports-related injuries, that’s a limited view. Physiotherapists are highly skilled health professionals that understand the principles of body movements to pinpoint and provide treatment for the source of the pain people get from injury, illness or ageing. They help improve the quality of a person’s life by restoring bodily functions and limiting the effects of dysfunctions.
Physiotherapist versus Fitness trainers
Although physiotherapists and fitness trainers have a deep understanding of body mechanics, physiotherapists have better insight into the dynamics of bodily injury, pain and recovery. Because physiologists work with injured professionals, they must understand the nature of their pain so they can develop treatment plans that will restore to health. Due to the technicalities involved, physiotherapy is a more regulated profession. Fitness trainers, on the other hand, only have to go through qualification courses lasting a few weeks or months before they get certified. At Reach Physio our Personal Trainer works alongside our Physiotherapist services for the best of both worlds.
Benefits of Physiotherapy
After a major surgery like a hip replacement or events like a heart attack, doctors usually refer patients for physiotherapy. Moreover, if you have an injury or a chronic pain that makes your day a struggle, physiotherapy may be of help.
Here are some of the major problems that can be treated by physiotherapists:
- Back and neck pain caused by problems in the skeleton or muscles.
- Pains in the joints, bones, ligaments and muscles.
- Disability resulting from a heart attack
- Lung problems like asthma
- Loss of mobility due to brain or spine trauma… and lots more.
Physiotherapy – a healing and fitness therapy
The reason physiotherapy is so effective is because of its focus on identifying the root cause of a problem. For instance, back pain can be a symptom for a variety of conditions. Physiotherapists carefully consider all major factors to determine the real reason for your illness. Thereafter, therapeutic exercises, as well as low-impact aerobics are administered. These regimen release endorphins, which acts as a natural pain killer, helping your body stay active and fit.
Conclusion
The role of physiotherapy in fitness cannot be overemphasised. By applying their knowledge of body functions and movements, physiotherapists can prescribe exercises that take into account the pre-existing conditions of a patient to help accelerate recovery.
* Contact Reach Physiotherapy for a list of references used for this blog content.
