You must have heard how useful physical therapy is in treating different diseases and even accidents. Physical therapy is an exercise treatment given to patients who have experienced some sort of illness or accidents that have rendered them immobile and hampered their flexibility. Physical therapists assess the patient’s conditions and based on that recommends exercises to help patients regain their vigour. In case you want to know more about the conditions which can be treated through physiotherapy then this article is for you.
Arthritis
In arthritis, the patient experiences inflammation of joints which results in stiffness and aches. As the patient ages, this condition can worsen. Hence, it is necessary to treat it. Physical therapy aims at strengthening the joints which get weak from inflammation. Physiotherapy exercises can help reduce pain and increase the mobility of joints. Physical therapy exercises for arthritis also aim at increasing fitness and strength so that the patient can perform their daily activities. Your physical therapist might also give you tools such as crutches and canes. They might also suggest hot and cold therapy to relieve joint pains. They will also advise you to make changes in your environment like using ergonomic chairs or cushioned mats.
Concussion
Concussion is brain injury which is caused due to a blow to the head, falling or aggressive shaking of the head and body. It can lead to temporary cognitive problems. The symptoms include headache, nausea, memory loss, ringing in the ears, dizziness, blurred vision, seizures, anxiety, and extreme fatigue. A physical therapist in such a case examines your condition and suggests you the appropriate routine for it. The first step of physical therapy for concussion usually includes rest to relax your brain from any kind of tasks such as school, sports and work. It will help heal the brain and relieve the symptoms. The next step consists of restoring strength and durability. All the rest needed to treat concussion can lead to weak muscles and low physical endurance. When you have received enough rest you will be asked to perform some physical therapies that involve movement. Following it, if you have trouble maintaining your balance, perform some vestibular physical therapies which involve the inner ear and it’s connection to the brain. For treating headaches, your physiotherapist will make you do some eye exercises, strength and motion exercises, stretches and so on. After this, you can gradually return to perform normal tasks without overwhelming the brain.
Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is a type of cancer which occurs in the cells of the breast. It mainly occurs in women and rarely in men. The symptoms include lumps, bloody discharge from breasts and change in appearance of the breasts. The type of treatment for breast cancer usually depends on the stage it is in. Physical therapy plays a major role in the treatment of breast cancer. However, before performing anything, have a word with your doctor or physical therapist. Usually after breast surgery or radiation therapy, the patient finds it difficult to lift her arm. This is where physical therapy comes in. It is important because if the patient is unable to lift her arm, doctors might become unable to radiate that area. There are times when the patient experiences lymphedema due to radiation, cancer surgery or simply because of the disease. Physiotherapy helps in bringing back the lymph fluid into the lymph system. Physical therapy also reduces tightness of breasts. The important thing to keep in mind is to be patient, stay hydrated and maintain a good posture.
Frozen Shoulder
Frozen shoulder involves stiffness and aches in the shoulder joints. This condition is seen in people suffering from diabetes or in those who have kept their shoulder inactive for a long period of time. Physical therapy for frozen shoulders comprises various kinds of stretching exercises. These exercises include:-
- Pendulum Stretch
- Towel Stretch
- Finger Walk
- Crossbody Reach
- Armpit Stretch
Make sure that you warm up before performing any of these stretches. This could be done by taking a warm shower or bath for around 10 to 15 minutes.
Low Back Pain
Low back pain is a condition affecting the lower portion of the spine. It is usually caused by sitting or laying down for hours, wrong sleeping position, a fracture, ruptured disk, lifting too much weight, working out for a long time or even complete absence of any physical activity. Lower back pain usually goes away in two to four weeks. In very rare cases, surgery might be required. To speed up your recovery physical therapy is highly recommended. The physical therapy program to treat lower back pain are:
- Stretching
- Dynamic stabilization exercises
- Core strengthening exercises
It is highly recommended that once the patient has recovered from low back pain, they continue to perform these exercises at home to maintain strength and muscle mass. This is to avoid low back pain from coming back.
