About Physiotherapy

 

What is a physiotherapist’s expertise? 

An evaluation by a physical therapist is more than the application of heat packs or being given a sheet of exercises. Therapists will review the prescription given to you by your physician. They will take a history of your problem and evaluate your physical capabilities and limitations and try to identify the movements that cause and alleviate your pain. They will use physical means to correct those abnormalities in function. Therapists may use heat or cold modalities, ultrasound, or massage to relieve pain. They will prescribe exercises that will improve back function. 

Physiotherapists study the science of movement. They learn how to pinpoint an injury’s root causes.

When should I go see a physiotherapist?

Think about getting physiotherapy if you have an injury, or chronic pain that affects how you function everyday.

If you are planning to use health insurance to help cover the cost of physiotherapy, remember to visit your insurance company's website to ensure the physiotherapist is covered. If the physiotherapist is not covered by that insurance company you will not be able to use your benefits and will need to pay the full cost of treatment. 

A doctor may refer you to physiotherapy after surgery such as a hip replacement, or an event such as a heart attack or stroke.

What problems do physiotherapists treat?

Physical therapy is useful for low back pain if given at the appropriate time. If given too early, you are too “hot”—meaning that pain is so acute that any attempt to improve movement causes increased muscle spasm resulting in marked pain. Exercise can make acute pain worse if you begin too early in the course of recovery from a back injury.

The time for exercises is when pain starts to decrease and movement is increasing. You can start with simple flexion and extension exercises without a visit to a physical therapist, but if back pain is not

going away and you still can’t move any better, then a physical therapist can be helpful to improve function. There are many reasons for completing a course of physical therapy and exercise: to

ü  Decrease the pain

ü  Strengthen your muscles

ü  Stretch your muscles

ü  Decrease stress to your spinal structures

ü  Improve fitness to reduce chance of recurrence

ü  Stabilize your back problem

ü  Improve your posture

ü  Improve your mobility

Physical Therapy Evaluation

An evaluation by a physical therapist is more than the application of heat packs or being given a sheet of exercises. Therapists will review the prescription given to you by your physician. They will take a history of your problem and evaluate your physical capabilities and limitations and try to identify the movements that cause and alleviate your pain. They will use physical means to correct those abnormalities in function. Therapists may use heat or cold modalities, ultrasound, or massage to relieve pain. They will prescribe exercises that will improve back function. The following are some of the exercises they may suggest.

What can I expect at physiotherapy?

Your session will be unique, because it is all about you and your particular needs. In general, here’s what happens:

ü  The physiotherapist learns about your medical history

ü  The physiotherapist assesses and diagnoses your condition

ü  You receive a treatment plan that sets goals for you

ü  You are prescribed a course of exercises and any assistive devices needed