What Does Physiotherapy Entail?
Physiotherapy is a special type of treatment that is typically offered to people who suffer from joint complications such as arthritis. This treatment is usually offered by physiotherapists – healthcare professionals who are trained on how to ensure that you regain an independent lifestyle both at work and in your daily life at home. If you need physiotherapy Hampshire please see here. These professionals typically assess your mobility issues and help craft a strategy on how you can prevent further deterioration in your joints. On visiting a physiotherapist, they will:
– Examine the current state of your mobility issues and offer the pertinent advice as well as comforting words
– Offer encouraging words designed to help you understand how you can manage your condition
– Address any concerns you may have regarding your future wellbeing
offer advice and reassurance
– Help you set treatment goals designed to ensure that you remain as active as possible while recuperating
Note that there are special physiotherapists who are trained in identifying and treating unique joint and muscle issues. As such, your doctor may refer you to a special physiotherapist who is in a unique position to help with your condition as opposed to sending you to an orthopaedic surgeon or rheumatologist.
On visiting a physiotherapist, the professional will start the session by asking questions about your illness as well as examining the joints you find painful. This is to help the physiotherapist to tailor a treatment routine designed to solve your existing medical issues. Your treatment plan may include:
– An exercise program with specific routines
– Tips on how you can exercise more without sustaining any injuries
– Pain relief treatments that you can explore such as acupuncture, massage, taping, heat packs, ice packs or Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) machines
-provision of walking aids such as splints that can help improve your mobility
KEY THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND IF YOU ARE ARTHRITIC
1. How can a physiotherapist help if you have arthritis?
A physiotherapist can help explain the effects that arthritis has on your muscles and joints. By understanding how arthritis affects your body, you will be in a better position to manage its effects.
2. How can you manage pain if you are arthritic?
This medical condition can lead to extreme and uncomfortable pain in specific parts of the body or throughout the body. Though medications can help curb the pain, your physiotherapist will inform you of other treatment options that you can explore which complement the medications prescribed to you. You can continue taking some of the pain-relief treatments prescribed by your physiotherapist such as:
– Using ice packs to soothe swollen joints
– Using heat packs to relax stiff and tired muscles
– Using splints (which can be provided by your physiotherapist or occupational therapist) to help with mobility problems especially when you have a flare-up of rheumatoid arthritis
– Using TENS machines – A TENS machine is a small electrical gadget that sends electrical pulses to nerve endings in your body through a pad on your skin. This type of nerve stimulation can help curb the pain caused by arthritis through altering the perception of pain when your nerves send signals to the brain. TENS machines usually provide a tingling sensation that most people find soothing.
3. You can manage pain in arthritic joints by pacing yourself
If you have arthritis, exerting yourself or failure to do sufficient exercises can lead to even more pain. A physiotherapist can however help you find the right balance of activities to help manage your condition. Further, they can also help you make a plan on how to gradually increase your level of physical activities as your treatment progresses. Pacing your treatment is the best way that you can continue the activities you love as you heal.
4. Undertaking regular and graded exercise routines helps in the management of arthritis
Graded exercises typically start out small and increase over time. This gives your muscles and joints a chance to improve as you expand your treatment. By improving your stamina and general fitness levels, you will be able to undertake more exercises without feeling any additional pain. Taking part in regular exercise routines will also help your body stimulate the release of endorphins (naturally produced pain-relieving hormones).
5. What are some other forms of treatment that may be recommended by a physiotherapist for arthritis?
a) Massages – These can help make your muscles more relaxed and reduce pain in the joints when you are mobile
b) Acupuncture – Acupuncture can help reduce the pain in your joints and muscles by stimulating the release of endorphin. Note that some physiotherapists are trained on how to give acupuncture
c) Electrotherapy – This can be done through techniques such as low-level laser therapy and ultrasounds. Electrotherapy usually fosters quicker healing and reduces pain in affected joints and muscles
d) Manipulation – Though this form of treatment is not ideal for all patients suffering from arthritis and should only be undertaken under the guidance of a physiotherapist, it can help to improve the range of mobility in your joints