Various parts of our body like joints, ligaments, tendons, nerves, muscles and cartilage, come together to form the musculoskeletal system. When any part of this system is subjected to pain or trauma, physiotherapy is utilised as an additional aspect to aid recovery. This kind of therapy that deals with the musculoskeletal system is referred to as Orthopaedic therapy.
It includes manual assessment, treatment techniques, therapeutic exercises, and pointers on how to maintain a good posture and deal with movement disorders.
What does it help with?
Orthopaedic physiotherapy is carried out to deal with a wide range of issues like:
What are the different types of therapy available?
- Massage: Therapists could use light or targeted massage techniques to break down the scar tissue in one's ligaments.
- Manual therapy: Affected joints are moved carefully in this type of treatment to restore the joints' mobility.
- Interferential therapy: This method is used to deliver electric current to the injured part using 2 or 4 electrodes. It is used to reduce pain and to speed up the healing process.
- Ultrasound therapy: This therapy is used by promoting circulation, reducing pain, and helping muscles in that area to relax.
- Dry needling: Fine needles are inserted into dysfunctional muscles to aid the healing of trigger points. Some biochemical changes that take place after this helps in a faster recovery.
- Hydrotherapy: Since our body's resistance in a pool is less, this kind of therapy is used to treat joint injuries without applying a lot of stress.
- Kinesiology: This method involves using extremely flexible and colourful tapes, to provide support, decompress trigger points, boost blood circulation, work on improving lymphatic drainage as well as reduce pain and inflammation.
- Traction: It is used to take the pressure off from the damaged joints; this form of therapy can be carried out using a medical-equipment or just by hands.
- Acupuncture: Although it uses techniques similar to dry needling, acupuncture is based on traditional Chinese Medicine and is used to treat various ailments.
- Rehabilitation Exercises: These are typically recommended to people in the process of trauma-recovery, before any external form of treatment. Exercises that are advised can be done at home quickly and are designed to improve stability, mobility, and strengthen the muscles that support one's bones.
Orthopaedic physiotherapists will work together with individuals to understand and provide them with the best possible therapy. Patients suffering from any musculoskeletal ailments should seek immediate physiotherapy to recover quickly and receive any necessary aid to help with their mobility/flexibility issues.
People in the post-surgery rehabilitation phase can also primarily benefit from this kind of physiotherapy since it aims to strengthen their muscle groups and restore their optimal functionality.
Yours in self-care,
Adrian Wilk
