Different Types of Physiotherapy

Posted on: 19 January 2017

If you have ever had an injury, then you probably attended physiotherapy sessions as part of your healing process. Physiotherapy is also good for people with disabilities and illnesses. There are several types of physiotherapies provided by qualified physiotherapists.

Acupuncture

This type of physiotherapy involves insertion of sterile needles into specific parts of a patient's body. This approach aims at clearing blockages as well as encourages normal functioning of the patient. Acupuncture is effective in treating pain – neck pain, muscle pain, knee pain. It is also used to treat:

  • Depression, moods
  • Digestive problems
  • Back problems
  • Allergies
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Headaches

Manual Therapy

Manual therapy involves exercises and stretching. This type of therapy aims to restore the patient's mobility, enabling them to move freely. Manual therapy is also used to treat people with disabilities.

Taping

Taping serves two major functions. The first is to help an injured person recover quickly from the injury. The second is to protect against future injuries. There are types of taping that are applied to promote blood flow in the deep fascia. Kinesiology tape is mostly used to treat athletes, allowing them to return to sports earlier. Taping prevents an individual from overusing a particular muscle, promoting quicker healing of the injured part.

Soft Tissue Massage

This is one of the common types of physiotherapy that is not necessarily applied on a patient or injured person. You can get a soft tissue massage even when you are fully healthy and fit. This massage relaxes your muscles and increases blood circulation. If you have an injury and you get this type of massage, the injury will heal faster. This massage also enhances your body mobility, relieves muscle tension, and improves oxygen flow.

Education

You also get to be given some information during some physiotherapy sessions. In these sessions, you are educated on

  • How to protect your joint
  • How to perform daily chores or tasks safely
  • Avoiding re-injury
  • How to perform exercises at home to facilitate your healing process
  • Ways to make your home safe if you have vision, balance, or strength problems.

Electrotherapy

As the name suggests, this type of physiotherapy uses electricity for the treatment. Examples of this type of therapy include ultrasound therapy and laser therapy. Laser therapy uses focused lights that are tuned to specific wavelengths. Ultrasound therapy uses sound waves that are above the range of human hearing, and is mostly used to treat runner's knee and muscle strains.

Share