All of us have heard the name of physiotherapy during our lives. Probably, at least once, our business, our family or our friends have reached the physiotherapist. But this expertise has always remained in an aura of ambiguity. Some confuse it with exercise therapy or massage. Or they don't know for which diseases they can go to a physiotherapist. Doctorto health magazine introduces you to physiotherapy anew in this article. And it answers the questions that may arise about it.

Physiotherapy is used to treat or reduce symptoms and pain in different parts of the body. You can get to know the best physiotherapist in your city and make an appointment for an in-person visit.

Physiotherapy: definition

Physiotherapy or physical therapy is a method of treating diseases and neurological-muscular-skeletal disorders using mechanical equipment, electric currents, manual maneuvers, sports exercises and other physical factors. In these methods, exercise, light, ultraviolet and infrared rays, heat and electric current are used. Physiotherapy is a field of medicine. whose purpose is to prevent diseases, treat, rehabilitate, raise the level of health and improve the quality of life of people. All physiotherapy treatment methods have evidence and scientific and research basis. And it is completely different from treatments such as physical medicine, chiropractic, traditional medicine, sports therapy and massage therapy.

three main methods of treatment

• Exercise therapy: Physiotherapist by prescription; Conducting and teaching special therapeutic exercises, massage, exercise in water (hydrotherapy), treats the patient or increases the level of health.
• Electrotherapy: The treatment is performed by special devices. These devices usually use certain waves (microwaves, radio waves, ultrasonic waves, electric waves) which are all produced by the device in a certain way and are changed (modulated).
• hand therapy skills

The most important areas of physiotherapy activity

Includes the prevention and treatment of the following:

Diseases and disorders of the musculoskeletal system
• Diseases of the cardiovascular and respiratory
• Peripheral and central nervous system diseases
• skin diseases and burns
• Pain and pain control
• Occupational diseases
Sports injuries

application fields of physiotherapy in hospitalized patients

• Reduction of hospitalization time
• Reduction of hospitalization complications

What specialties do physiotherapists have?

• Orthopedic physiotherapy: The most common type of physiotherapy specialty is orthopedic physiotherapy. Treatment of patients who have had surgery, patients with arthritis, tendinitis or chronic tendinitis, ligament strain and tear, tendon or muscle strain or tear, back pain or neck pain, knee pain, shoulder pain, elbow pain and wrist pain, hand pain and patients who need rehabilitation after fracture repair.
• Manual therapy: Manual therapy describes a variety of manual therapy techniques used for movement disorders.
• Physiotherapy for the elderly: In this specialty, maintaining body balance and preventing falls is of great importance.
• Sports rehabilitation: Specializing in helping to recover after injury or surgery.
• Bodybuilding and Wellness: Counseling and treatment regarding wellness programs and bodybuilding needs such as overweight, osteoporosis, diabetes
• hand treatment
• Women's health: Expertise in the field of women's problems such as pregnancy problems, pelvic pain, urinary or fecal incontinence.

In this video, Mr. Ahmad Mouzenzadeh, a physiotherapist, talks to you about exercise therapy in physiotherapy.

Industrial rehabilitation: Helping those injured during work.

• Pediatric physical therapy: Helping children with cerebral palsy, developmental disorders, nervous system, and orthopedic problems.
• Physiotherapy with water: In this type of physiotherapy, the property of floating on water, turbulence, hydrostatic pressure and thermal properties of water can help in the rehabilitation of patients.
• Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation: Working with patients suffering from heart attacks, bypass operations or angioplasty. or patients with breathing problems, emphysema (air accumulation in body tissues) or other disorders related to the heart or lungs.
• Rehabilitation of brain injuries, spinal cord and nervous system injuries: functional training including walking training, training how to use a wheelchair, training to sit or get up from the bed, etc.
• Rehabilitation of balance, confusion and dizziness.
• Rehabilitation of amputees
• Wound care.
• Electrophysiological clinical physiotherapy: In this type of physiotherapy, electro-neurophysiological tests such as nerve conduction and electromyography are performed.
• Rehabilitation of lymphedema disease
• Prevention and rehabilitation of osteoporosis.

Hydrotherapy:

In this video, Dr. Samiye Kashraf Fard talks to you about the benefits of water therapy or hydrotherapy, which is one of the modern methods in physiotherapy.

Does physiotherapy hurt?

One of the primary goals of many patients is to get relief from pain. Physiotherapists offer appropriate exercises to the patient that not only relieve pain but also restore the body's range of motion, strength and endurance. In some cases, physical therapy techniques are painful. For example, regaining knee range of motion after joint replacement surgery or regaining shoulder range of motion after shoulder surgery may be painful. The physical therapist offers a variety of techniques to help the patient achieve his or her therapeutic goals as much as possible. It is very important to share with your physical therapist information about the severity of the pain, how often it occurs, and how long it lasts. Without this information, it is difficult for the physical therapist to set up a treatment plan for you.

Is massage also received in physiotherapy sessions?

Massage may be part of your treatment. Massage is usually done for three reasons: facilitating the return of venous blood from the swollen area to the heart, relaxation of stiff muscles, and pain relief. Contrary to popular belief, massage does not increase blood circulation.

Is it possible to apply to any physiotherapy clinic?

In most cases, the patient has the right to choose any physiotherapy clinic he wants.

Can physiotherapist diagnose disease?

In many cases, physiotherapists cannot diagnose the disease. This is the doctor's duty. Physiotherapy specialists are important members of your treatment team, but it is doctors who, as health care providers, diagnose diseases.

Physiotherapy is used to treat or reduce symptoms and pain in different parts of the body. In Doctorto, you can get to know the best physiotherapist in your city and make an appointment.

How to choose a physiotherapist?

When looking to choose a physical therapist, there are some things to consider:

• Physiotherapist must be licensed.
• In the first meeting, the patient must provide the physiotherapist with his complete medical records. And the physiotherapist must perform a physical examination on the patient before performing any treatment.
• The physical therapist will describe to you: your medical history, your current problems or complaints, the severity of your pain, the things that make your problem worse. And things that make your problem lighter determine how it affects your daily activities. or your functional limitations, drug prescriptions, tests, and other health-related procedures.
• The physiotherapist measures the condition of the joints in relation to the ideal state and their condition relative to each other.

Objective evaluation:

The physiotherapist then performs an objective assessment, which may include the following:

• Inspection by touch
• Joint range of motion
• Assessment of muscle strength
• Nerve monitoring
• specialized tests
• Assessment of the position of the body and...

Program setting:

The physiotherapist will then make a list of the problems you have. And notes how to treat these problems. Based on the information you provide, he sets up a plan. This program includes the number of sessions per week that you should go to physiotherapy. The number of weeks you need treatment, the programs you need to do at home. Patient education, short-term or long-term goals, and what to expect after physical therapy sessions are completed? This program is based on the information you provide, the information your doctor provides to the physical therapist, and the information the physical therapist obtains.

tips about physiotherapy

• The length of each treatment session is usually 30 to 60 minutes.
• How many physical therapy sessions you need varies from one patient to another.
• This issue depends on the diagnosis of your disease, the severity of the injury, your medical records and other things.
• The care process should include a variety of techniques. These techniques may include practical techniques, work on soft tissues, therapeutic exercises and in some cases heat, cold, electrical stimulation and ultrasound.
• Check if the clinic you choose has a department or service that can treat your disease.
• Does the clinic you choose have a contract with your insurance or if they don't have a contract, they intend to accept you.
• The location of the clinic should be close to you.
• Since sitting in a car and driving often worsens orthopedic problems. Therefore, if you need to drive a long distance to reach the physiotherapy clinic you have chosen, you must have a convincing reason.

Physiotherapy is used to treat or reduce symptoms and pain in different parts of the body. In Doctorto, you can get to know the best physiotherapist in your city and make an appointment.