Physiotherapy is used in the rehabilitation process of many individuals, with a significant presence in long-term care facilities, community-based clinics, and hospitals. Physiotherapy is a drug-free healthcare practice that sees patients improve their physical health, strength, and well-being through regular exercises and lifestyle changes.
Physiotherapy has proven to be effective in the treatment and management of the following conditions:
- Arthritis
- Diabetes
- Stroke patients
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- A range of respiratory conditions
Our Physiotherapists at Reach Physio
The physiotherapists here at Reach Physiotherapy are able to assess and diagnose a problem, plan for the best treatment programmes, and aim to restore function for the individual. All of the physiotherapists working here at Reach Physio are fully-trained and qualified professionals, providing care tailored to the needs of each client, helping individuals to achieve their goals. In this article, we will be looking closely at physiotherapy, how it works, and the benefits.
The Benefits of Physiotherapy
Physiotherapists play an integral role in helping individuals return well from an injury, illness, or age-related problem. Treatment methods will vary from patient to patient, fitting with their needs and abilities. However, physiotherapy is most common in those who suffer from pain in the back, neck, or joints.
Proven to be effective in the treatment and management of many conditions, physiotherapy has a number of benefits, including:
- Pain relief
- The reduction of inflammation
- Strength training
- Posture correction
- Increases joint movement
- Improves cardio and respiratory function
- Increases coordination
- Improves balance, reducing the likelihood of a fall
- Helps maintain daily activity
- Corrects sports injuries
- Encourages fast and correct healing post-surgery
- Maintains muscle strength
- Helps maintain good posture
How Does Physiotherapy Work?
To help you understand physiotherapy a little more easily, we thought we’d explain what a standard appointment with a physiotherapist would look like. When you see one of our physiotherapists, he or she will complete a detailed assessment of your health history, evaluation of your physical health, pain reception, movement patterns, joint range of motion, sensation and cardio-respiratory status. They will also examine any relevant x-rays, laboratory tests, medical records, and surgical notes relevant to your condition. Based on this detailed assessment, they will establish a diagnosis and work with you to develop appropriate goals and a satisfactory treatment programme.
What Does Physiotherapy Treatment Include?
Physiotherapy treatments vary, depending on the needs and ability of each individual. And for some, this can be quite confusing. So, we thought we’d outline some of the most common physiotherapy treatments we provide, here at Reach Physio. Below we have outlined a number of physiotherapy treatments techniques we use:
Manual Therapy
The use of Manual Therapy is most commonly for patients struggling with joint movement. It uses the physiotherapist’s hands to help mobilise the joints of the client’s spine and other extremities, helping to create movement in the nerve tissue and facilitate flexibility and normal tone of muscle. The purpose of Manual Therapy is to help the client regain the full, efficient, and safe movement of their body.
Manipulation
This is a form of manual therapy known as the ‘crack’. Manipulation involves the movement of one joint surface onto another, performed at high velocity to help reduce pain and loosen joints and their surrounding soft tissue. All of the physiotherapists here at Reach Physio have undergone extensive training to ensure they can perform joint manipulations safely and comfortably.
Exercise Therapy
A common form of physiotherapy performed on the elderly, exercise therapy involves restoring movement of the body by relieving stiffness and symptoms of age-related illness to help improve function. Exercise therapy uses specific stretching, strengthening, and stabilisation exercises to help rehabilitate the client and improve their daily living.
Athletic Taping and Bracing
As the title would suggest, athletic taping and bracing is for those who have suffered a sporting injury. Taping and bracing the injured joints and body parts can help protect those areas from further injury, allowing for many clients to return early to activity. Athletic taping and bracing can also provide support for muscles which have tightened or sprained, helping them to relax and heal quickly, providing an earlier return of motion.
Acupuncture
Using needles in patient treatment has been around for over 3,000 years and is still very prevalent today in many physiotherapy treatments. The physiotherapists here at Reach Physio performing acupuncture treatments, use a combination of traditional techniques with a more contemporary dry needling style to help provide pain relief, promote the healing of tissue, and to assist other treatment techniques.
Electrotherapy
When it comes to physiotherapy and the various treatment methods we provide, electrotherapy is invaluable. Commonly used alongside other treatments, electrotherapy is used to speed up the healing process and help manage pain for the client. Here at Reach Physio, we will never use machines alone to treat clients as we don’t believe this will solve the problem, but we have seen significant success with the combination of machines and the treatments above in the healing process.
Our electrotherapy treatments include the following:
- Interferential (IFC)
- Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulation (TNS)
- Laser
- Ultrasound
How Can Physiotherapy Help Me?
Physiotherapy can make a real difference in an individual’s ability to live a full and active life. For many people with injuries, chronic illness, or age-related problems, physiotherapy is the key to restoring and maintaining a high level of health and physical function that permits independent living. If you’ve been living with an injury or problem that has been affecting your daily life, consider physiotherapy and how it could benefit you.
How to Find a Physiotherapist
Finding a suitable physiotherapist is something that involves a number of factors and can often be the only reason people put off chasing this treatment style. Finding the right physiotherapist for you involves numerous factors, including your location, the type of specialist treatment you require, and the reason you require treatment.
Here at Physio Brighton, we provide a variety of physiotherapy treatments suited to a number of ailments. What’s more, if our location is hard for you to get to or you are unable to leave the house due to the severity of your problem, we also provide in-house physiotherapy services, when needed. Our physiotherapists can visit you in the comfort of your own home and provide all the care you need on a regular basis.
Book Your Physiotherapy Appointment Today
If you would like to find out more about physiotherapy, treatment techniques, and their benefits, you can visit the NHS website. Alternatively, if you would like to book a physiotherapy appointment at Reach Physio, you can book an appointment through our website online. If you have any questions or require further information about our services, please contact our lead physio Antony at antony@reachphysiotherapy.com Let our team at Reach Physio help you on to a more healthy, active, and pain-free life!
* Contact Reach Physiotherapy for a list of references used for this blog content.
