Last week we discussed the benefits of physical activity, a subject not easily avoided these days, with people at every turn being encouraged to get up and move for their physical and mental health. But is it as easy as lacing up your training shoes and pounding the pavements or heading to the gym? In most cases the answer is no! That may be because you don’t know where to start, or you feel physically unable to indulge because of pain or a present condition that is holding you back. So what then? Is all hope lost? Not at all; you can seek the advice of a physiotherapist.
Physiotherapist? Aren’t they just for helping you deal with pain? Well, the answer again is no. Physiotherapists, also known as physical therapists, are professionals that focus on movement and function. Physiotherapy is defined as “therapy for the preservation, enhancement, or restoration of movement and physical function impaired or threatened by disease, injury, or disability that utilizes therapeutic exercise, physical modalities (such as massage and electrotherapy), assistive devices, and patient education and training.”
Physiotherapists are the third biggest health profession after doctors and nurses. Physiotherapy dates back to 400BC when physicians Hippocrates and Galen prescribed physical activity to improve health. But it has not always been known as physiotherapy; through its evolution it has had many names but the underlying ethos has always been the same: movement and physical activity helps improve health and fitness.
In 1813 Per Henrik Ling, from Sweden, developed a special branch of medicine that involved movement and gymnastics to improve health and fitness. In fact the Swedish word for physiotherapy is sjukgynmnast, which translates to somebody involved in gymnastics for those that are ill. It became popular in American and UK hospitals around 1916, with the spread of polio disabling many adults and children. During the First World War women were employed to provide exercise for injured soldiers and help restore physical function. From then the profession has grown and it is now an established discipline within hospitals and health care clinics. Through a degree programme, physiotherapists are guided to help individuals who find themselves unable to function or move because of pain or debilitating conditions and diseases.
Physiotherapists have a great deal of knowledge about anatomy, physiology, the mechanics of movement and the science of pain. They use a range of modalities to relieve pain such as electrotherapy, mobilisations, massage and acupuncture but their biggest secret weapon is physical activity and movement. Through assessment they are able to analyse weakness, altered movement patterns and postural dysfunctions. After a detailed assessment they will guide and educate you on how to become more active and independent through movement and exercise.
If pain is a barrier to you starting physical activity, a physiotherapist will work with you to relieve your symptoms, and the treatment prescribed will depend on the cause of your pain. They may use electrotherapy, massage or mobilisations alongside a graded exercise pattern to strengthen and stabilise your muscles and joints. Physiotherapists can also help people who have any of the following conditions:
• Neurological (stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s)
• Neuromusculoskeletal (back pain, whiplash associated disorder, sports injuries, arthritis)
• Cardiovascular (chronic heart disease, rehabilitation after heart attack)
• Respiratory (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis)
To ensure that you work to your optimum potential they will identify your problems and also analyse your posture to identify muscle imbalances and bad habits. By correcting defects, you will get more from your fitness programme and minimise the risk of injury. Posture correction focuses on education, stretching, strengthening, core stability and balance.
Remember: anyone can benefit from physiotherapy; you don’t need to be suffering from back pain or managing a long-term medical condition such as asthma, or an athlete recovering from an injury, or in need of improving your performance. Physiotherapy is there to help you to get active and reach your maximum potential!
Kim Jackson is a UK-trained physiotherapist with over 20 years’ experience. She specialises in musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction including back pain and sciatica, stroke and other neuro conditions plus sports physiotherapy, having worked with local, regional and international athletes and teams treating injuries and analysing biomechanics to improve function and performance. She is registered with the Allied Health Council and is a member of PASL. She currently works at Bayside Therapy Services in Rodney Bay, tel. 458 4409 or 284 5443; www.baysidetherapyservices.com
