7 Surprising Benefits of Physiotherapy

Many people with general medical conditions and injuries, which limit movement and function, seek physiotherapy. This non-invasive treatment method stimulates the body’s natural healing ability to restore, maximize, and maintain physical strength without surgery and dependence on pain medications. The core of the treatment includes the involvement of the patient in their own treatment plan, as well as education and empowerment awareness.

What Physiotherapy Is Used For?

Physiotherapy helps a number of people overcome various physical health conditions that affect the following:

• Bones and Joints – Physiotherapy provides natural and long-term relief to different bone and joint conditions, such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. People recovering from orthopedic surgery can also benefit from a physiotherapy treatment program. Strength training and exercises help strengthen the bones and muscles, as well as boost coordination and balance. 

• Heart and Lungs – A physiotherapist can help people prevent heart attack and manage the symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis and regain back their health.

• Brain and Nervous System – Physiotherapy also helps people with neurological conditions, including stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, and spina bifida. 

• Childhood – Children suffering from musculoskeletal conditions can find relief from physiotherapy treatment. For instance, the muscles of a child with muscular dystrophy will gradually become weaker over time due to loss of strength and mobility. A physiotherapy treatment program helps regain and maintain muscle strength, prevent joint stiffness, and increase flexibility.

• Old Age-Related Health Conditions – Old age may increase the risk of arthritis (inflammation of the joints) and osteoporosis (thinning of the bones). It also helps hip replacement patients recover from surgery.

The Benefits of Physiotherapy Treatment

Many do not realize the importance of physiotherapy in daily life. Personalized physiotherapy treatment can offer a positive life-changing experience that encourages you to switch to a healthier lifestyle to prevent future or recurrent injury while promoting overall health and wellness. 

1. Not Just a Physical Therapy 

Physiotherapy benefits are only limited to treating painful conditions. Many people may not realize that physiotherapy is a body and mind approach. Pain does not only affect you physically — it can also take a toll on you mentally and emotionally. Chronic pain can lead to sleep disturbances, mood changes, fatigue, decreased appetite, and difficulty concentrating. By treating the root cause of pain, improvement in mental and emotional health follows.

Therapeutic exercises and manual therapy techniques can help relieve pain and restore joint and muscle joint, allowing you to return to your normal daily activities and regain your quality of life.

2. Personalized Treatment Approach

Every patient’s treatment needs are different. This means that your body, areas of weakness, and pain and discomfort, as well as the treatment plan, should be unique. The physiotherapist will conduct a thorough and comprehensive health evaluation and assessment to create a unique treatment plan. 

3. Improve Balance and Prevent Fall

Patients get screened for fall risk before starting physical therapy. It allows the physiotherapist to design the right exercise plan that safely and carefully challenges your balance. When the patient’s vestibular system causes the balance problem, the physiotherapist can perform specific maneuvers to quickly restore the proper function of the vestibular and reduce symptoms of vertigo or dizziness.

4. Saves Time and Money

Physiotherapy isn’t as costly as many believe. Compared to the cost of multiple trips to the physicians, medical exams, prescription pain killers, and surgery, physiotherapy is cost-effective and saves you time and effort. If you experience pain due to an injury, you can consult a physiotherapist before seeing a physician. 

In many cases, the medical doctor can refer patients to physical therapists after surgery, to support the recovery process. You do not have to waste time visiting your doctors and spending money on various laboratory tests.

5. Provide a Lifetime of Support 

Developing a relationship with your physiotherapist means you have a reliable healthcare partner for life — not just during the duration of treatment. In addition to treating physical pain, the physiotherapist also provides emotional support to pain and recovery patients. 

Also, there are various benefits of physiotherapy for back pain patients. It teaches them how to manage pain and care for their bodies better. The same goes for patients suffering from joint replacement surgeries, age-related health problems, sports injuries. The physiotherapist also helps patients manage diabetes and vascular conditions.

6. Prevent Future Injuries

Patients of different fitness levels, from professional athletes to people with sedentary lifestyles, seek physiotherapy treatment for injuries. Depending on the severity of the condition, the physiotherapist will guide you on how to move your body properly to minimize the stress on your joints and prevent potential sprain, strain, and fracture in the future. Proper exercise techniques can help you strengthen and increase the flexibility of your joints and muscles, preventing injuries from occurring. 

7. Manage Women’s Health and Other Conditions

Women undergo significant changes in the body during pregnancy. The ligaments that support the back can become soft, causing them to stretch due to drastic hormonal imbalances. Also, the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles stretch as the baby grows inside the body. The physiotherapist helps manage the effects of pregnancy. Also, physiotherapy treats various conditions including the weakened pelvic floor, urinary incontinence, bowel incontinence, breast cancer, fibromyalgia, and lymphedema.

When to See a Physiotherapist

If you experience pain that does not improve after 2 or 3 days or if the pain or swelling becomes severe, consider visiting a physiotherapist. Delaying treatment can only worsen your condition. With the right therapy treatment and education, it can speed up your recovery process.

Here are other signs that you need to see a physiotherapist:

• If you feel pain when bending over, reaching down, or moving your body in a certain position, it means that your injury has affected the nearby areas in your body. 

• Minor pain that does not go away needs the immediate attention of a physiotherapist. 

• If you’ve had a chronic or acute sprain or strain.

If you experience any of these signs, see a physiotherapist ASAP! Delaying treatment could result in further complications which would require potential surgery. Do not let pain affect your quality of life. 

Oriole Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Centre offers personalized treatment and recovery plans tailored to match your individual health and wellness needs. Call us at (416) 221-0772 to book a physiotherapy session in North York.