Everything You Need To Know About Physiotherapy
There are many that look like each other between the terms physiotherapy and physical therapy. In Australia this is a highly regulated profession, and at Mainstreet, we prioritize ensuring that patients are getting the best care. Also, the focus of each within the allied health professions. The topics vary from being equal in performance to varying levels of distinction. So, are they identical, similar, or vastly different?
Definitions among various resources give separate definitions based on the approach used by physiotherapists and physical therapists and their location.
If living in Europe, Canada, or Australia, one may hear physiotherapy used, while those living in America are familiar with physical therapy.
One commonality is that neither Physiotherapists nor Physical Therapy Clinics prescribe drugs, and medical and chiropractic physicians refer most patients.
Physiotherapy approach at Mainstreet
Our Physiotherapists mostly use a manual, hands-on approach for soft tissue and fascial releases, stretches, and massages. . We educate patients through recovery on ways to manage the injury, illness, or disability.
The best way to determine any difference is to define the approach of each.
What is Physical Therapy?
The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) says that a physical therapist is “a trained and licensed medical professional with experience diagnosing physical abnormalities, restoring physical function and mobility, maintaining physical function, and promoting physical activity and proper function.”
Therefore, physical therapy treatment aims to ease chronic and acute pain, help a person function, move, and live a restored life while focusing on a specific area for treatment.
Patients seeking care from physical therapists have experienced pain from various injuries or immobility. These may include recoveries from surgeries, accidents, sports injuries, or birth/growth defects.
Physical therapists generally treat non-threatening injuries by assessing and caring for musculoskeletal issues. The problems associated with the muscles can result from strains, injuries, chronic movement issues, or recovery from surgery.
A physical therapist may work in private practice, hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, or fitness centers. Each location will have specialized equipment that a physical therapist will use to exercise modalities for the patient.
Physiotherapy Definition
As per the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA), to practice as a physical therapist in Australia, you must:
- Earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from an accredited physical therapist education program.
The program takes about three years and requires a bachelor’s degree for acceptance.
Physiotherapy: As per the Australian Physiotherapy Association, Physiotherapists are trained to assess your condition, diagnose the problem, and help you understand what’s wrong. Your treatment plan will consider your lifestyle, activities, and general health.
The following are common treatment methods used by physiotherapists:
- exercise programs to improve mobility and strengthen muscles
- joint manipulation and mobilization to reduce pain and stiffness
- muscle re-education to improve control
- airway clearance techniques and breathing exercises
- soft tissue mobilization (massage)
- acupuncture and dry needling
- hydrotherapy
- assistance with the use of aids, splints, crutches, walking sticks, and wheelchairs to help you move around.
Kinds of Therapy
Hot and Cold Therapies
Patient care may include a variety of treatment modalities. These may consist of ice or cold packs, cryogenics, or nitrogen to lessen chronic and acute conditions.
Other treatments may include hot packs, diathermy, and infrared heat to treat chronic conditions and joint pain.
Class IV Laser Therapy
Class IV laser therapy uses particular wavelengths of light to stimulate the body’s natural healing ability. Laser therapy catalyzes your body’s healing mechanisms by improving circulation, increasing blood flow, decreasing inflammation, and helping the repair of cells in muscles, tendons, and joints.
Ultrasound Treatment
A DPT may use ultrasound to reduce inflammation. This treatment produces sound waves that cause vibration within the muscle, creating increased blood flow, oxygen, and chemicals necessary to heal damaged tissue.
Blood Flow Restriction Therapies
Some physical therapy clinics offer Blow Flow Restriction Therapy (BFR) which allows patients limited by pain or inflammation to strengthen muscles under a smaller muscle load.
TENS Electrical Stimulation Technique
As referenced on Healthline.com, electrodes placed on the skin at the source of the pain send signals to the nerves that block or reduce pain signals to the brain.
Neuromuscular Reeducation
This technique works to restore standard body movement patterns by working the muscles in cases of atrophy, injury, or pathology.
Physiotherapy Techniques
Physiotherapy uses manual therapy mostly in treatment by using their hands to manipulate and massage the body tissues. This technique forces improved blood circulation and muscle movement while relaxing the area to relieve pain and stiffness.
Physiotherapists, as noted earlier, take a holistic approach and use these manual techniques:
Massage stimulates the soft tissues to relieve pain, improve circulation, and relax.
Soft Tissue Techniques include stretching, which is a myofascial release similar to massage.
Joint Mobilization and Joint Manipulation are therapies to move a joint in a gliding way to improve motion and joint function to control pain.
Physiotherapy Instrument Mobilization (PIM) is a technique applied with the assistance of handcrafted instruments.
Minimal Energy Techniques (METs) is a therapy that uses a muscle’s energy to relax through autogenic or reciprocal inhibition while lengthening the muscle.
Physiotherapy may include treatments such as osteopathy, acupuncture, or kinesiology
where allowed by state practice laws.
Exercises
We all know the importance of exercise to one’s overall health. Body movement helps maintain mobility and function. In addition, many activities are easy to perform after learning proper techniques from a physical therapist.
Movement and Strength Exercises are beneficial for specific body parts to maintain posture, balance, and control, especially as we age.
Whole-body exercises such as swimming or walking help maintain good muscle motion and movement.
Hydrotherapy is any water exercise that supports muscles and joints and builds strength.
Conclusion
Given that the requirements to practice the discipline in Australia require a bachelor’s degree followed by a three-year DPT or Doctor of Physical Therapy, you can be comfortable seeking treatment from a Mainstreet practitioner and know that you are in good hands as everyone is vetted extensively to make sure they are all up to date with their knowledge and skills. If you are looking for a physio near Perth then look no further!
