Physiotherapy: when is it really needed?

Recovering or preserving the ability to perform movements and physical functions compromised or endangered by an illness, trauma or disability: this is why we rely on physiotherapy, a therapeutic approach based not only on treatments and exercises, but also on patient education.

In fact, the ultimate goal of physiotherapy should be not only to solve a pre-existing problem, but also to help patients take care of themselves and their health in the best possible way, especially when the reason why you have turned to the physiotherapist is to cope with a loss of functionality due to a traumatic event or a health problem.

Sometimes the path to achieving the desired results is very challenging and requires dealing not only with physical, but also emotional, social and work-related problems.

For this reason, it may be necessary to collaborate between several experts (for example a physiatrist, a neurologist or an orthopedist) who do a real teamwork together with the patient and, if necessary, with his family or those who take care of assisting him in everyday life.

Physiotherapy, when is it useful?

Reasons for physiotherapy include chronic pain. Massages, soft tissue manipulations and other specific manual treatments can help to deal with the discomfort, but the therapy is also educational and includes advice on movements, posture and precautions to be taken in everyday life (for example use suitable footwear).

Also you may end up at the physiotherapist due to falls and fractures. Improving balance reduces the risk of falling again, and physical therapy can strengthen bones. For this reason, physiotherapy is also useful against osteoporosis.

Other conditions that may benefit from physiotherapy include:

• back pain, neck pain and whiplash
• arthritis and other joint problems
• asthma
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Type 2 diabetes
• incontinence (including incontinence associated with pregnancy)
• Multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson’s
• Stroke
• cerebral palsy
• dementias
• cardiovascular diseases and hypertension.

Where to do physiotherapy?

The most suitable structure to turn to when you need physiotherapy varies depending on the situation.

Sometimes it may be enough to turn to a freelancer. In other cases, however, it is necessary to go to specialized rehabilitation centers that provide for the patient’s hospitalization.

Structures of this type in some cases can be useful after hospitalization due for example to orthopedic problems, a stroke, a brain trauma.