Physical Therapy

Physical therapy, also called Physiotherapy is a conservative method of treatment, prevention and healing of injuries and disorders in movements. Its primary motive is to restore normal functioning and relieving pain. Physiotherapy also deals with fitness, body mechanic or ergonomic training and prevention and education. Physical therapy can also prevent a disorder from becoming worse. It provides healing and treatment through mechanical as well as physical means like heat, electric current, exercise, education and support.

Physical therapy aims at relieving pain, resorting physical fitness and improving the mobility of limbs. The physiotherapy treatment varies according to the level of injury or disorder. The treatment focuses on the following systems:

• Spinal cord, nervous system
• Blood circulation and functioning of the heart
• Health of the muscles, bones and ligaments
• Skin care, healing of wounds
• Vestibular system (inner ear) as it is important for restoring balance

When a patient is undergoing rehabilitation, then physical therapy is only a part of the recovery process. More often than not, it focuses on locomotive activities like walking and climbing. There are other forms of therapy as well during this process like occupational therapy which involves much delicate movement disorders and thinking skills.

Physical therapy uses both active and passive therapies for the treatment of patients. Among the active therapies are strengthening, stretching and therapeutic exercises. Passive therapies consist of ultrasound, massage, electric simulation and joint mobilization. Physical therapies help in healing and recovery processes like recovery of a patient with spine disorder. However, a well designed physical therapy will not only help in the recovery of such a patient, it will also help in speeding up the process.