What Is Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy, also known as Physical therapy (PT) is a medical treatment that aims to bring back normal movements and functions in a patient who is affected by injury, illness, or disability. It also helps in reducing the risk of any injury or illness anytime in the future. The techniques of physiotherapy provide great relief to patients who are suffering from long-term problems.
Generally, physiotherapy practices are performed by a physiotherapist, who is highly-skilled healthcare professional. A physiotherapist focuses on the management and prevention of pain or any impairment in a person.
Benefits of physiotherapy exercises
Physiotherapy benefits are many, and it is suitable for all age groups. It consists of both movement, and science, which is aimed at injury prevention, rehabilitation, holistic fitness, regaining strength, and flexibility, and overall healing.
Here are a few advantages of physical therapy –
- Pain management: With physical therapy, we need not rely on medications and painkillers. The physical therapists aid in joint and soft tissue mobilization with various exercises, manual therapy, and devices such as exercise bikes and balls, bands and loops, traction types of equipment, phototherapy machine, ultrasound, electrical muscle stimulation, etc., based on the patient’s requirement. These primary treatments help to restore the lost muscle movements and overcome pain.
- No need for surgery: With physiotherapy, you can avoid the possibility of surgery. However, in some cases, surgery is inevitable but physical therapy can avoid it in selected conditions. Specific exercises and pain removal therapies can heal the damaged tissues leading to overall health improvement; thus escaping the need for surgery.
- Improve mobility and balance: It is observed that after a grave injury or a major surgery it is quite difficult for patients to walk properly. Physical therapists can guide patients to walk normally and regain their lost muscle strength with the help of therapeutic exercises and suitable assistive devices.
- Helps to recover from a stroke: Physiotherapy in post-stroke rehabilitation is an important recovery process. Stroke physical therapists train you with specific exercises that can restore the damaged muscles and nerves to maintain blood circulation, improve balance and prevent rigidity.
- Prevents injuries: Physiotherapy is best known for post-injury care and surgical rehabilitation, but it can also guide us to prevent injuries in the future. Preventive physical therapist educates us with many techniques to keep our body in balance and good shape.
Some of the ways a physiotherapist can help to avoid injuries are:
- Improving stability
- Correcting balance
- Teaching proper techniques
- Preparing for warm-up and cool-down exercises
- Educating how to move properly
- Working on muscle strength and alignment (position)
- Managing diabetes: Obese or being overweight is a prominent risk factor for diabetes. Therefore with physical therapy, it is easy to maintain a healthy weight. Physiotherapy also helps in maintaining proper blood glucose levels and optimal weight, thus resulting in an overall healthy lifestyle.
What Is Children’s Physiotherapy?
Pediatric physiotherapy includes pediatric physiotherapists, who perform children’s physiotherapy exercises with babies and children right from birth to 19 years old. The children’s physiotherapy exercises help kids overcome developmental, neurological, neuromuscular, or musculoskeletal difficulties.
What Are The Common Children Physiotherapy Conditions?
Children’s physiotherapy deals with the following pediatric conditions :
Neurological conditions :
- Cerebral palsy
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- Asperger’s syndrome,
- Acquired brain Injury
- Ataxia
- Dyspraxia
- Peripheral nerve injuries
- Brain and spinal cancers
- Epilepsy
- Hydrocephalus
- Head injury
Respiratory problems :
- Asthma
- Cystic fibrosis
- Breathing problems
- Chest infections
- To increase exercise tolerance
- Treat secretions and cough
Congenital/hereditary disorders :
- Spina bifida
- Down syndrome
- Limb deficiencies
- Muscular dystrophy
- Ehlers Danlos syndrome (EDS)
- Congenital heart disease
- Congenital talipes equino varus (CTEV)
- CLN2 disease (neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 2)
- Phocomelia
Rheumatological problems:
- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
- Dermatomyositis
- Vasculitis
- Connective tissue diseases
- Reactive arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Scleroderma
Orthopedic conditions :
- Talipes
- Torticollis,
- Gait abnormalities (toe-walking)
- Spinal cord injury
- Fractures
- Sports injuries
- Muscle sprain
- Joint problems
- To improve gross motor skills
- Knee problems
- Scoliosis or plagiocephaly
- Chronic pain
- Growth related pains
- Chronic fatigue
- Sports-related pain
Developmental conditions:
- Learning disabilities
- Speech problems
- Hearing loss
- Vision impairment
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),
- Intellectual disability (ID)
- Depression
- Anxiety and eating disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Schizophrenia
- Hypotonia (Muscle weakness)
- Post-surgery rehabilitation
- Weight management
- Burns and plastics
How Does Children’s Physiotherapy Different from Regular Physiotherapy?
- Children’s physiotherapy differs from regular physiotherapy because of psychological and physiological variations between children and adults.
- Children’s psychology is different from adults and their musculoskeletal system is still at a developmental stage, both these factors make their physical therapy treatment different from those of adults.
- Pediatric physiotherapy sessions involve techniques on how to interact with kids to make their physical therapy experience enjoyable and effective too. It includes games, fun activities, rewards to keep the child engaged and motivated during the therapy session.
- Pediatric physiotherapists are experts in studying child anatomy, physiology, and development. Pediatric physiotherapy differs from adult therapy with the following conditions –
- Children’s bones develop at certain places at the top and bottom of the bones (growth plates or epiphyseal plates). Pediatric physiotherapists should be aware of these areas and also when the bones fuse (stop growing).
- Some ortho conditions are observed only in kids as they affect growth plates, e.g.: Sever’s disease, Osgood–Schlatter’s disease (OSD), Sinding-Larsen-Johansson (SLJ) syndrome.
- Certain health disorders are only noticed in children, like Torticollis and development delay. Children may suffer bowing or greenstick fractures, and these are not seen with adults.
- Children have a larger skin surface area compared to adults. Therefore, there is a possibility of toxins getting absorbed through their skin. Physiotherapists must take care while applying creams for massages or other materials used for tapping.
- A child’s walking pattern (gait) is very dissimilar to that of an adult. A pediatric physical therapist needs to find out any gait abnormalities in children and provide them with physical therapy if required.
- Children’s physical exercises require efforts from the parents, siblings, family, and also their teachers because kids can experience difficulty while adjusting to new environments, situations, and different people.
What Are The Benefits Of Pediatric Physiotherapy?
- Pediatric physiotherapy enhances physical function and quality of life in children.
- Pediatric physiotherapy rehabilitation is important after a sports injury. The recovery process is fast, and it’s beneficial in the long run.
- Pediatric physical exercises are recommended after a surgery or any injury to regain the lost strength and bring back normal body movements.
- Pediatric physical therapy plays a crucial role in improving a child’s –
- Developmental delays
- Neurological disorders
- Gross motor skills
- Respiratory problems
- Orthopedic problems
- Pediatric therapy assists kids in independently performing gross motor skills and functional mobility skills. When kids perform these skills successfully, it promotes self-confidence and self-sufficient qualities in them.
So, following the instructions of a Pediatric physiotherapist helps your children to regain their strength and fix their disabilities. Always make sure your child follows the rules stated by your therapist.