Physiotherapy, sometimes called physical therapy, is a healthcare profession that aims to improve each patient’s quality of life through physical intervention and education.
The question, ‘Is physiotherapy worth it?’ is not new. Some say it takes too much time, and sometimes, you might not see the desired benefits.
The short answer is that physiotherapy brings more benefits than you thought, but you might not get all the benefits if you don’t follow due process.
For example, say your physiotherapist recommends climbing up and down the stairs twice a day while recovering from a knee injury, and you forget. You and the physiotherapist may be disappointed by the results by the next session.
In this article, we’ll explain what physiotherapy involves and the benefits you’ll enjoy if you follow your physiotherapist’s instructions, especially when they’re qualified and experienced.
Let’s get to it.
What Does a Physiotherapy Session Involve?
A physiotherapy session aims to address a patient’s specific physical therapy needs and goals. The best physiotherapists in North York structure each session ahead of time, ensuring to personalize it to fit your physical therapy needs.
So, what happens during a physiotherapy session can differ as each individual can have different conditions.
Still, there are common elements in every physiotherapy session. This section will discuss what to expect during a physiotherapy session.
1. Initial Assessment
Like any other endeavour, understanding the situation or needs is the first thing that happens during a physiotherapy session.
At the Body Dynamics Clinic in North York, the physiotherapist will thoroughly assess your condition and develop a personalized treatment plan.
Expect your physiotherapist to ask about your medical history, conduct physical tests or evaluate your range of motion, flexibility, and strength.
2. Setting Goals
Once the assessment is done, the physiotherapist, especially an experienced one in North York, will set realistic and achievable goals for your treatment. These goals will help guide your treatment plan and help track progress over time.
For instance, if a patient has knee pain, the physiotherapist can set six weeks as the return date to running. They’ll also set time-bound goals to improve the knee’s range of motion and pain reduction.
3. Treatment Plan
At this third stage, the physiotherapy treatment would involve the therapist developing a treatment recovery plan tailored to your specific needs and goals.
Often, this plan can include a combination of manual therapy, education, exercise prescription and other modalities like electrical stimulation and ultrasound.
4. Manual Therapy
In manual therapy, the physiotherapist aims to improve the patient’s joint mobility, reduce pain, and promote healing. They do this through techniques like massages, mobilizations, or physical manipulations.
5. Exercise Prescription
The physiotherapist can also ask you to perform specific exercises in the clinic or at home to improve strength and flexibility. These exercises can range from stretching to quad sets and leg lifts.
6. Education
Do you know all about your condition and how to manage it? If not, the role of a physiotherapist would include educating you so you don’t get a similar injury in the future or you know how to manage it better should it happen again.
Don’t be surprised if that includes education on the proper footwear or running technique to prevent knee injuries.
7. Modalities
If a patient has inflammation, the physiotherapist can introduce ice, heat, ultrasound or electrical stimulation to reduce pain.
8. Progress Monitoring
Throughout your treatment, the physiotherapist will monitor your progress and adjust the treatment plan as needed to ensure you are on track to meet your goals.
9. Follow-Up Care
Depending on your condition, you may require ongoing physiotherapy procedure to maintain your progress and prevent the recurrence of your symptoms.
A physiotherapy session is structured using a holistic approach to treating various conditions. That is why it is important to understand what to expect at a session.
With that information, you can approach your treatment with confidence and actively participate in achieving your goals for improved health and well-being.
- Need a Physiotherapist in North York? Book an appointment with Body Dynamics.
Is Seeing a Physiotherapist Worth it?
The short answer is, yes, seeing a physiotherapist is worth it. If you want to recover from an injury, manage a chronic condition, or improve your overall physical health, physiotherapy can help.
Here are some essential benefits of seeing a physiotherapist and booking a session.
- Pain Relief: Physiotherapy techniques, such as exercises and manual therapy can improve mobility and significantly reduce pain. For example, a thorough massage therapy by a specialist can relieve muscle tension, reduce pain levels, and promote relaxation.
- Faster Recovery: Studies have shown that early physiotherapy intervention will result in quicker recovery from injury or surgery. If you start treatment early, you can regain function and return to normal activities sooner than expected.
- Prevention of Future Injuries: Physiotherapy can help identify and address underlying issues that may lead to future injuries. For example, physiotherapists can assess a runner’s gait and provide corrective exercises to prevent recurring knee injuries.
- Management of Chronic Conditions: If you have arthritis, regular exercises will improve joint flexibility and strength, reduce pain and improve overall function. So, physiotherapy can play a crucial role in managing chronic conditions.
- Improved Balance and Coordination: Physiotherapy could be the answer to improve balance and coordination and reduce the risk of falls, especially in older adults. Balance training, gait training, and assistive devices are some ways physiotherapists can help improve balance.
- Education and Empowerment: Physiotherapy sessions often include education on proper body mechanics, posture, and self-care strategies. This empowers you to take control of your health and prevent future injuries. For example, a person with back pain may learn proper lifting techniques to avoid further strain on their back.
Related Article: Diagnosing Lower Back Pain And Finding Treatment
Physiotherapy is Worth it and Offers Many Health Benefits
Physiotherapy looks to improve a person’s quality of life, and it does that through physical intervention and intense education. With physiotherapy, your pain will significantly reduce; you can recover faster from an injury and even prevent future injuries.
As we have discussed in this piece, follow the instructions of an experienced physiotherapist, and you’ll experience the benefits of physiotherapy.
Body Dynamics offers best in class physiotherapy treatments to residents in North York. Book an appointment with us to discuss your physiotherapy needs or call 647-799-26866 today.