Physical therapy helps in improving or restoring your physical function, promoting the level of fitness. The objective of this therapeutic treatment is to increase your strength, flexibility, coordination, endurance and balance. Now the field of physiotherapy entails a number of specialty areas. Read on to find an overview of the five most common types of physiotherapy.
Orthopaedic Physical Therapy
It primarily focuses on restoring the function to the musculoskeletal system, which includes tendons, joints, bones and ligaments. A number of sports injuries are counted in this category. The methods of treatments include strength training, stretching, hot and cold packs, endurance exercises, electrical muscle stimulation, joint mobilisation and ultrasound.
Geriatric Physical Therapy
Multiple health issues start developing as an individual goes through the normal process of aging. These include health conditions such as cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis, balance disorder, joint replacement and Alzheimer’s disease. The geriatric physiotherapy focuses on restoring mobility, pain reduction and fitness improvement.
Neurological Physical Therapy
This area of physiotherapy focuses on neurological disorders or impairments such as brain injury, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, stroke, spinal cord injury and Parkinson’s disease. Common symptoms of patients suffering from neurological disorders include vision impairment, paralysis, difficulty in walking and poor balance. Physical therapy specialists work with individuals to improve these areas of dysfunctions.
Paediatric Physical Therapy
Paediatric physiotherapy focuses on early detection of health issues along with diagnosis and treatments of infants, toddlers and children suffering from diseases or injuries, such as birth defects, delay in development, limb deficiencies, genetic disorders, head traumas or muscle diseases. The treatment improves endurance, strength, balance and coordination, range of motions, flexibility, gross and fine motor skills.
Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy
People suffering from cardiopulmonary disorders, such as COPD or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, heart attacks and pulmonary fibrosis are primarily treated by physiotherapy experts who have mastered the techniques of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary physical therapy. It focuses on boosting patient endurance and also promotes functional independence.
Vestibular Physical Therapy
Techniques included in Vestibular physical therapy are highly effective to treat people who have sustained damage in the inner ear. Balance and coordination is highly affected when a person sustains this type of damage. This therapy entails multiple manual techniques which improve the coordination and mobility.
However, to understand the type of physical therapy that will suit your health condition most, you should contact any highly experienced physical therapy specialist to experience the ultimate benefits of the treatment.
If you cannot get time to visit a good masseuse you can try a massage gun or simply visit a health retreat.