What is physiotherapy? How does physiotherapy work? How does it differ from Chiropractic, or physical therapy?
When first immersing yourself into the world of physiotherapy, you will have a lot of questions. That’s great! We love questions. Give us a call and ask away! For those who would rather find answers on the internet, we have tried to compile all the questions we hear into one place for you.
Manual therapy, hydrotherapy and massage therapy techniques existed long before exercise machines like the gymnasticon though. There are depictions and writings of these techniques dating back as far as 450 BCE by Hippocrates, and Galenus some time after 140 AD.
What is Physiotherapy? How Does Physiotherapy Work?
Physiotherapy is an evidence-based health profession that plays a key role in your health throughout your life. Physiotherapists work with clients of all ages and with a wide range of conditions. Physiotherapy is effective in the assessment, treatment, and management of new and longstanding conditions, preventing injury, and promoting health and wellbeing. Physiotherapists work to help you restore, improve, and maintain your strength and physical well-being. Your balance, freedom of movement, flexibility, breath, and fitness can all be improved upon with physiotherapy. A physiotherapist will work with you through education, awareness, participation, exercise, and different treatment techniques to help you achieve your goals. Physiotherapy is not just for pro athletes or post surgeries. The ‘whole-body’ approach to your health that will be delivered is available to everyone of all ages and abilities! Whether you are training for a race, preparing to give birth, getting ready for a surgery, recovering from a stroke, have a nagging pain somewhere, or just want to maintain your health, physiotherapy is for you! As a health care profession, physiotherapists can have a range of specialties, and can work with various systems within your body:- Muskuloskeletal (MSK) Muscle pain, arthritis, sports injuries, sprains, strains, etc.
- Neurological Stroke rehabilitation, Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Brain Injuries, Ataxia
- Cardiovascular Heart attacks, heart disease, etc.
- Respiratory Asthma, Cystic Fibrosis, Pulmonary Edema, COPD
The History of Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy as a collective profession dates back to 1813 when the Royal Central Institute of Gymnastics was founded in Sweden. Their focus was exercise, massage and physiological manipulation. Physiotherapists as a professional title weren’t officially registered to Sweden’s National Board of Health and Welfare until 70 years later. Great Britain soon followed suit in 1894, New Zealand in 1913, and the United States in 1914. Physiotherapy as a whole began much earlier than this, however. A device called the “gymnasticon” was developed in the eighteenth century to encourage systemic joint exercise. It was used to treat gout!
Manual therapy, hydrotherapy and massage therapy techniques existed long before exercise machines like the gymnasticon though. There are depictions and writings of these techniques dating back as far as 450 BCE by Hippocrates, and Galenus some time after 140 AD.
How Does Physiotherapy Help?
Exercise and education is at the core of physiotherapy. Keeping those joints and muscles moving is super important for your health! Strengthening your muscles and ligaments can help you reduce pain, regain mobility, and so much more!- Pain Management
- Regain and improve mobility
- Reduce or eliminate need for surgery
- Improve surgery recovery
- Stroke recovery
- Prevent falls and improve balance
- Recover from an injury
- Prevent future injury
- Manage arthritis and other joint pain
- Manage physical age-related changes
- Diabetes and vascular conditions
- Heart and lung disease
- Incontinence
- Pain during pregnancy
- Breast cancer
- Fibromyalgia
- Vertigo
- Concussions
- Lymphedema
- Pelvic health
- Osteoporosis
- Sports performance
- and more!