Pain can be difficult no matter the cause – this is hardly a controversial or earth-shattering statement. Yet, you’d be shocked by how many people try to simply “grin and bear it” when it comes to their pain – including from chronic conditions. Needless to say, this often isn’t the healthiest option.
This begs the question, though: what are some of the better options to pursue? How can we formulate a plan to manage and lessen pain in our daily lives? Of course, there are many answers to this question, but today we’ll be focusing on physiotherapy. Not sure what it is? Don’t worry!
In this article, we’ll be discussing what physiotherapy is, how it works, and whether or not it’s available throughout Canada. Spoiler alert for that last point: it certainly is! In fact, from Vancouver to Manitoba, there are options. If you’re in the area, you can search for a Burnaby physiotherapy clinic, but more on that later.
For now, let’s focus on the basics. After all, there’s a lot for us to cover, so follow along!
In this article, we’ll be discussing what physiotherapy is, how it works, and whether or not it’s available throughout Canada. Spoiler alert for that last point: it certainly is! In fact, from Vancouver to Manitoba, there are options. If you’re in the area, you can search for a Burnaby physiotherapy clinic, but more on that later.
For now, let’s focus on the basics. After all, there’s a lot for us to cover, so follow along!
What is Physiotherapy?
Naturally, the first question to answer is this: what is physiotherapy, anyway? For our purposes today, we’ll define it as a healthcare treatment that aims to improve mobility, strength, and overall function in individuals with physical impairments or disabilities. You may have also heard it called “physical therapy.”
Physiotherapists work with patients to develop personalized treatment plans that address specific physical needs, goals, and limitations.Before we delve further into that part of things, where are some of the places where physiotherapy is practiced? A few examples include hospitals, outpatient clinics, private practices, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, sports medicine clinics, schools (for pediatric patients), and community-based programs.
The Different Types
As with most medical processes, there are a few different types of physiotherapy that a doctor may recommend. We’ll explain some of them here but take note that there may be more beyond what we cover.
Manual Therapy: These aretechniques that involve applying controlled forces to joints or soft tissues to improve mobility, reduce pain, and promote healing.
Exercise Therapy: Programs that involve stretching, strengthening, and other exercises to improve flexibility, strength, balance, and overall functional ability.
Modalities: Techniques that use heat or cold therapy to reduce pain and inflammation, or electrical stimulation to promote muscle contraction and relaxation.
Physical Agents: Agents like ultrasound, infrared radiation, or electromagnetic stimulation that can help promote healing and reduce pain.
Education and Counseling: While this may sound strange, teaching patients how to manage their condition effectively through lifestyle changes, proper posture, body mechanics, and pain management strategies can be quite effective.
Pilates and Yoga: Now, this is a fairly mainstream option. In fact, there are studies about it like this one: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8038747/. The idea is that these are modified exercises that can help improve core strength, flexibility, balance, and overall functional ability.
Electrical Simulation: This is the final type we’ll talk about for now, and it involves techniques that use electrical impulses to stimulate muscle contraction or relaxation.
What Can Physiotherapy Treat?
Now that you’ve got a primer on what it is, as well as some of the types that are available, you’re probably wondering what these methods can help treat. Again, there are quite a few answers to that – a lot of patients find that these techniques help them achieve a higher quality of life.
Musculoskeletal Conditions
Conditions that impact the musculoskeletal system can often be alleviated by these types of therapy. Let’s explore some examples.
- Back pain, such as lumbar strain or herniated discs.
- Neck pain, such as whiplash or cervical spine sprain
- Should pain, such as rotator cuff injuries or shoulder impingements
- Knee pain, such as patellofemoral syndrome or ACL injuries
- Elbow pain, such as tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow
- Hip and groin pain, such as hip flexor strains or adductor strains
- Ankle and foot pain, such as plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendinitis
Neurological Conditions
At first glance, it may seem surprising that physiotherapy can be used for neurological conditions. However, they have been proven to help a lot of patients through the years with issues such as:
- Strokes and other cerebrovascular accidents
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Guillan-Barre Syndrome
Orthopedic Conditions
Another category that has been under a lot of study lately is orthopedic conditions. Here are some examples:
- Fractures and non-unions
- Joint replacements
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Tendinopathies (such as tendonitis or tendonosis)
Read also %29 The Role and Benefits of Chiropractic Care
Pediatric Conditions
When children are involved, things can certainly be stressful. Thankfully, there are plenty of pediatric facilities that can assist with conditions such as:
- Cerebral Palsy
- Spina bifida
- Spasticity
- Developmental Delays
Birth-related Injuries
Chronic Conditions
Admittedly, some of the things we’ve already described fall under this category. With that said, there are a few notable chronic conditions that come to mind in discussions of physiotherapy:
- Fibromyalgia
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Chronic pain syndromes
- Endometriosis
Rehabilitation
For the final category we’ll be discussing here, there are several instances where physiotherapy will be integrated into rehabilitation. These include:
- Post-operative rehabilitation (after surgeries)
- Post-injury rehabilitation (after trauma)
- Pulmonary rehabilitation (for chronic lung disease)
- Cardiac rehabilitation (for heart failure or post-cardiac surgery)
- Women’s health issues (for pelvic floor dysfunction or postpartum rehabilitation)
Benefits of Physiotherapy
As you can see, there are a lot of reasons why someone might want to pursue this process. Of course, you may still be wondering what the benefits are. Articles like this one can provide some additional context beyond what we’ll be covering, if you’d like to read further on the topic in the future. For now, let’s delve into some specific benefits.
Pain Relief
This is perhaps the most obvious, and common, reason for entering a physiotherapy program. That’s because it can help reduce pain and inflammation by promoting healing, improving mobility, and strengthening muscles. Although it may take time, the investment is well worth it.
Improved Mobility and Flexibility
Another fairly “popular” benefit is this. These techniques can help increase range of motion, reduce stiffness, and improve flexibility, making it easier to perform daily activities. Obviously, that’s invaluable to patients all over the world.
Increased Strength and Endurance
Something else that this process can help with is improving muscle strength, endurance, and overall physical fitness. In turn, this can enhance overall health and well-being.
Enhanced Balance and Coordination
Going in tandem with our previous entry, it can help improve balance, coordination, and proprioception (awareness of body position), reducing the risk of falls and injuries. That reduced risk is invaluable in a lot of cases.
Improved Physical Ability
You’ve likely realized this by now, but the primary focus of these processes is to improve functional ability, allowing individuals to perform daily activities with greater ease and independence. Finding that independence can be a real challenge in a lot of cases, so this is the ultimate end-goal for many patients.
Improved Mental Health
Thus far, we’ve mostly focused on the physical benefits. However, it’s important to note that there are often mental benefits as well. This process can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression by promoting relaxation, improving mood, and enhancing overall mental well-being.
Improved Sleep
For a lot of patients experiencing the conditions we’ve described here today, sleep can be difficult and fickle. Physiotherapy can help improve sleep quality by reducing pain, promoting relaxation, and improving overall physical function. The ability to get better sleep is invaluable, in fact.
Finding a Clinic
On a final note for today, let’s explore the options available if you’re looking into physiotherapy. Of course, there are several potential clinics here in Burnaby, as well as across Canada as a whole. How do we choose one that’s best for us, though?
It helps to do some research beforehand. The resources we’ve provided here today may be of some use on that front. Additionally, you can ask for recommendations from friends and family, or you can look online for some reviews. See what services specific clinics offer, and if they include some of the techniques that you’d like to utilize.
Remember that if a specific doctor isn’t to your liking, you can always get a change. There are a lot of variables at play to consider, after all.
