About Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is a drug-free health care practice. Physiotherapists work in partnership with individuals of all ages to break down the barriers to physical function whether that means working with patients’ pre and post-surgery, helping people come back from illness and chronic disease, injury, industrial and motor vehicle accidents and age related conditions. Physiotherapists also play an important role in health promotion and disease prevention.
Physiotherapy has proven to be effective in the treatment and management of arthritis, diabetes, stroke and traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and a range of respiratory conditions offering those afflicted with tools and techniques to acquire and maintain an optimum level of function and pain-free living.
Physiotherapy is a primary care, autonomous, client-focused health profession dedicated to improving quality of life by:
- Promoting optimal mobility, physical activity and overall health and wellness;
- Preventing disease, injury, and disability;
- Managing acute and chronic conditions, activity limitations, and participation restrictions;
- Improving and maintaining optimal functional independence and physical performance;
- Rehabilitating injury and the effects of disease or disability with therapeutic exercise programs and other interventions; and
- Educating and planning maintenance and support programs to prevent re-occurrence, re-injury or functional decline.
Physiotherapy is anchored in movement sciences and aims to enhance or restore the function of multiple body systems. The profession is committed to health, lifestyle and quality of life. This holistic approach incorporates a broad range of physical and physiological therapeutic interventions and aids.
Benefits of Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy can make a difference in an individual’s ability to live an active, healthy lifestyle. For many seniors, disabled or chronically ill people, physiotherapy is the key to restoring and maintaining a level of physical function that permits independent living.
Physiotherapy is one way to successfully push physical limitations to secure the Freedom to Function.
Physiotherapy benefits include decreasing pain, improving joint mobility, increasing strength and coordination and improved cardiorespiratory function. Everyone can benefit from physiotherapy whether you are living with a chronic illness, recovering from a work injury or suffering after that weekend hockey game.
Physiotherapy increases your independence and gives you the freedom to function in your home, workplace or your favourite leisure activity. Physiotherapy offers a range of specialized services of benefit to patients with heart and lung disease, traumatic, workplace and athletic injuries, amputations, arthritic joints, stroke, brain injury, spinal cord and nerve injury, cancer and pre- and post-surgical needs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Physiotherapy
• Back and Neck Pain
• TMJ (jaw) Problems
• Shoulder Problems, including tendinitis, frozen shoulder and impingements
• Repetitive Strain Injuries
• Headaches
• What should I expect on my first visit?
• How long will my appointment be?
• What should I wear?
• Will it hurt?
• How many appointments will I need to get better?
• How much will it cost? And how will I need to pay?
Physiotherapy holds numerous benefits for your health and wellbeing. These benefits may include:
• Pain management – Physiotherapy aids patients suffering from conditions such as arthritis, muscle strain, and tendonitis. It allows for pain management through physical mobilization and adjustment and may allow for reduced use of potentially harsh pain medication. Physiotherapy may also act as a preventative measure against developing conditions that require surgery.
• Improving Strength and Coordination – Through treatment involving exercise & stretches, a patient’s body is strengthened and mobilized, allowing for greater robustness and improved body coordination.
• Preventing serious injury – Movement and activity-related injuries, especially in athletes, are a major concern for many. Not only is physiotherapy able to treat and alleviate pain caused by these injuries, but prevent further injury as well.
• Pregnancy and postpartum care – Pregnancy introduces a number of drastic and sudden changes to the body that can seriously impact the health and wellness of a mother. Physiotherapy helps alleviate the harsh effects that these changes bring, and can ease you through your pregnancy and postpartum care.
Some specializations include:• Pediatric physiotherapy
• Geriatric physiotherapy
• Cardiovascular/pulmonary physiotherapy
• Neurological physiotherapy
• Vestibular rehabilitation
• General rehabilitation and pain management
• Female health physiotherapy
• Pelvic floor physiotherapy
Pelvic floor physiotherapy is a specialization that focuses on the treatment of the pelvic floor muscles located between the hips and sacrum that support the pelvic organs.
Physiotherapy treatment for pelvic floor dysfunctions involves:
Assessment and treatment of the spine and pelvic joints, Internal vaginal/rectal myofascial release of the pelvic floor muscles and visceral fascial stretching and strengthening exercises for the pelvic and core muscles postural assessment and education
Condition treated by pelvic physiotherapy:
• Vulvodynia, Vulvar vestibulitis, Vaginismus
• Anismu
• Chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS)
• Coccydynia, coccyx pain
• Constipation
• Interstitial cystitis (IC) or Painful bladder syndrome
• Endometriosis
• Incontinence (including urgency and frequency)
• Infertility
• Hip labral tears
• Painful intercourse
• Pelvic organ prolapses (POP)
• Pudendal neuralgia, pudendal nerve entrapment (PNE)
• Pelvic congestion syndrome
• Pelvic floor muscle disorder (PFMD)
• Persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD)
• Pregnancy and postpartum pain
• Urgency, frequency.
The ultimate goal of physiotherapy is to alleviate and eliminate pain. However, there is the possibility that some prescribed treatments and exercises may cause discomfort or pain. This is not necessarily a bad thing as these exercises, despite causing a moderate amount pain, may be beneficial in the long-term scope of your treatment. However, the pain or discomfort you experience during your treatment should be observed.
Is the pain so intense that it leaves you debilitated for extended periods of time, or is it moderate and subsides relatively quickly? Is the pain originating from your original injury only getting worse with the exercises? These observations are necessary so that you can identify any concerns you may have to communicate to your practitioner so that they may effectively modify your treatment.
