What exactly does a Physiotherapist do? A Physiotherapist works closely with patients to design personalized, effective programs designed to improve their functional capacity and mobility. They are also trained to assist patients in all stages of physical health-from infancy to old age.
The physiotherapist uses various techniques to rehabilitate patients who have suffered an injury that has resulted in muscle weakness or soreness. This type of physical therapy is used to achieve maximum results for injuries that are slow to heal. Slow to heal injuries can result in permanent paralysis if left untreated. For this reason, the physiotherapist will use manual therapy, exercise, massage, stretching, and movement therapies to correct structural imbalances in the body and to promote healing. Manual therapy, such as massage and ultrasound, work to reduce pain and stiffness, increase range of motion, and strengthen the muscles.
The physiotherapist is also trained in the management of acute health conditions that do not respond to traditional methods of treatment. These include such illnesses as chronic pain, migraine headaches, and tennis elbow (the name given to adhesive capsulitis). For some patients, physiotherapy can provide significant relief from pain and disability. However, for others, especially those with severe health conditions, physiotherapy may not provide the desired outcome. In these cases, the physiotherapist will work with the patient and their primary care physician to determine the best course of treatment. Depending on the nature of the injury, the physiotherapist may provide joint protection and stability, therapeutic exercise, physical therapy, or surgery.
A majority of physiotherapists work in hospitals, but many offer their services to clinics and private practices. A large number of them are involved in athletic training, helping athletes overcome injuries that prevent them from performing their normal physical activities. Physiotherapists are specially trained not just in the assessment and management of sports injuries, but in all facets of exercise movement, which allow them to teach and motivate athletes with different types of sports.
There are many different therapies that a physiotherapist can administer to a patient. These range from targeted instruction on exercises and movement techniques to ultrasound or laser therapy. Some of the most common therapies that healthcare professionals offer include exercise and rehabilitation, physical therapy, and counseling services. They can also refer their clients to clinical therapists, who focus on just one area of the body.
A physiotherapist has the opportunity to specialize in a particular field of physical therapy. A physical therapist will treat soft tissue injuries, while a geriatric physiotherapist focuses his or her practice on older patients suffering from physical conditions related to aging. A chiropractic therapist specializes in treating back and neck pain, while a podiatrist helps people with foot and ankle pain. Many orthopedic surgeons have developed specialties that focus on treating conditions of the musculoskeletal system. While some practitioners work solely on sports injuries, others offer their expert advice for problems related to the musculoskeletal system as well as issues affecting the brain, spine, and neck.
Opal Physiotherapy and Health Clinic
20226 Fraser Hwy #102, Langley, BC V3A 4E6
(604) 532-7887