risks of not taking physiotherapy sessions on time

Physiotherapy is the treatment of disease, injury or deformity through movement or exercise. Physiotherapists are specially qualified and trained medical personnel who use movement to treat acute or chronic disorders. Though physiotherapy is advised routinely by doctors, not many follow it.

the common reasons for avoiding physiotherapy are:

• Lack of knowledge about importance of physiotherapy
• Fear of pain
• Lack of time
• Fear of extension of treatment time
• Encourages activity
• Maintains health, especially in elders
• Fastens recovery in several chronic disorders, sports injuries etc
• Helps patients to be independent
• Helps return quicker to work and other normal activities

Physiotherapy is not as frightening as perceived by the patient. A qualified physiotherapist will elaborate on the prescribed exercises. Depending on the stage of recovery, exercises can be:

• Active range of motion exercises (Done by patient after gaining adequate knowledge about the right way to exercise)
• Passive range of motion exercises (This is done when the patient is unable to perform on his own)
• Exercises are only for the health conscious. No!

We are under the assumption that exercises exist only for slimming the body. But medically approved exercises are available for all major movement disorders. Any organ system in the body can cause an alteration in normal movement.

Movements are not restricted to walking, standing or sitting. Respiration is also a movement. Likewise, it’s not only the bones and muscles that initiate movement. The central and peripheral nervous systems should also be intact to coordinate mobility. Since several factors are essential for movement, alteration in any one factor can cause serious disabilities.

Conquering illness through exercise. Here is a list of conditions where physiotherapy can be useful:

• Sports injuries
• During healing from fracture or fall
• Osteoarthritis
• Back Pain
• Neck Pain
• Osteoporosis
• Post-surgical rehabilitation
• Asthma
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases
• Cardiovascular disease management
• Rehabilitation following cancer treatments
• Hypertension
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Critical care patients
• Dementia
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Cerebral palsy
• Urinary Incontinence
• Chronic Pain Relief
• Pregnancy-related complication management
• Occupational health improvement

Work means stress but how can one de-stress at work? One of the main applications of physiotherapy is in avoiding occupational health hazards. Our body reacts to stress in several ways. Though anxiety and depression are the common manifestations of stress, the physical hazards go unnoticed.

Stress is the main factor responsible for long-term sickness absence for workers according to a recent study (CIPD Absence Management Survey 2011)

The back and neck muscles are particularly sensitive to stress. The magnitude of these ailments are so widespread that they are now referred to as work-related upper limb disorders or repetitive strain injury(RSI)

Stand up tall

Physiotherapists advise simple chair exercises to be incorporated into the daily work schedule. They also encourage good posture while standing and sitting. All these along with a healthy meal can instantly de-stress the body.

Ignore the early signs of stress, and you’ll fall prey to the complications of Repetitive Strain Injury. These include degeneration of joints, Nerve compression syndromes, and chronic pain.

move those joints

Arthritis is a chronic debilitating disorder of the joints. The disease is inevitable during old age but some experience it earlier due to several reasons. Though disease modifying drugs are available, a few dynamic exercises can help slow down the disease process.

Since the joints are inflamed most of the time, low-intensity exercises are recommended. These help increase mobility and flexibility. It also reduces pain after routine exercise.

If these exercises are not part of the treatment plan, the dose of drugs needed to counter the ill-effects may be higher.
Squeeze the muscle, stop the leak!

Urinary incontinence is one of the frustrating complications of pregnancy. Senility is also another reason. Incontinence occurs due to the weakening of the pelvic floor muscles.

Kegel exercises are recommended, but the web is filled with different versions. It’s always advisable to consult a physiotherapist to decide which exercise is suited for you. These exercises done over a period of time can provide considerable relief and avoid surgical treatments.

If the pelvic floor muscle work-out is ignored during pregnancy, urinary incontinence and back pain can be troublesome after delivery.

i’m a survivor

The world need not end with a major surgery. Fight back your way to normal work with the help of physiotherapy. The physiotherapist can guide you on the right levels of the best exercise intended for the ailment. Countless people have kicked back to work with the help of physiotherapists.

Unused muscles can cause atrophy (degeneration). It also leads to contractures which can permanently impair movement. Small increments of exercise can help counter all these complications of major surgeries.

heartening efforts towards health

Much has been talked about cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. Let’s stop talking and start acting. Regular Physiotherapy goes a long way in restoring health for all people.