Physiotherapy is a self-regulated profession that encompasses the training to treat a broad array of medical conditions. Physiotherapists have a University degree and are primary health care providers skilled to assess, diagnose, and treat a variety of health conditions.
They incorporate their comprehensive knowledge of the human body and translate it into a customized treatment plan specific to the individual, injury, diagnoses and goals.
Many people feel you need to have an injury to book a Physiotherapy appointment. This is not necessary. Many people attend Physiotherapy to help diagnose, treat and rehabilitate an injury but Physiotherapy can be very helpful in the prevention of injury as well.
Some reasons that Physiotherapy would benefit a person without an injury:
– Poor posture
– Stiffness in an area of your body.
– Weakness in an area of your body.
– Optimizing performance of a sport or hobby.
– Chronic diseases such as osteoarthritis or degenerative disc disease.
Regardless of what brought you into the Clinic setting. A Physiotherapist will assess and diagnose the issue of concern. Plan a treatment program to address improving strength, range of motion, and improve quality of life.
Physiotherapists assess the movement, strength, and body mechanics in your body to look for problems areas to treat and address. They always look above or below an area to make sure they identify the root cause of the problem. For example, you could be having knee pain, however, this issue actually stems from your low back or hip.
Our team believes that manual therapy is an asset to patient recovery and symptom management. We can provide longer treatment times to ensure a more thorough experience and prolonged timeframe with your Physiotherapist.
While manual therapy is intended to treat soft tissue, joint inflammation, and pain, it can also increase your range of motion, improving mobility and function. Physiotherapists who practice manual therapy rely on their hands to determine differences in tissue consistencies. They also employ a knowledgeable understanding of human anatomy which makes diagnosing and treatment planning a lot more effective.
Styles of treatment in the Physiotherapy setting include:
Manual therapy may be a useful tool for many health professionals, as it can be implemented in various ways. Some of the techniques may include:
- Soft Tissue Massage: The manipulation of the soft tissue, which includes muscles, tendons, or ligaments. This can be done through physical contact from the hands, arms, or elbows of your Massage Therapist.
- Assisted Active Range of Motion (AAROM): Your Physiotherapist will assist you as you move a joint through your available range of motion. The goal here is to get you to achieve as much range as possible.
- Passive Range of Motion (PROM): Your Therapist will move your joint through your available range of motion without you doing it yourself.
- Passive Stretching: Your Therapist will place a muscle in a lengthened position, which is then held for a short or long duration of time.
- Manual Traction: Provides force on a joint to allow for decompression in the joint area.
- Trigger Point Release: Trigger points are palpable nodules that can form tight bands in your muscles. These points can be released by the application of pressure to these tight areas.
- Joint Mobilization: The use of passive movements to the joint complex that’s applied at different velocities and amplitudes. This is used to restore mobility and function, as well as reduce pain.
- Joint Manipulation: The use of passive, high velocity, low amplitude thrusts to the joint complex within its anatomical limit. Much like mobilization, this technique aims to restore motion and function and reduce pain.
- Myofascial Release Technique (MRT): The application of pressure to the limitations in the myofascial tissue.
Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM): The use of specific tools to eliminate restrictions in your soft tissue or myofascial regions.
Another really important part of your Physiotherapy program is a home exercise program. For example, if stiffness of an area of the body is the reason you came to see us. We want to address increasing the joint movement, as well as, muscle flexibility in this area. We also need to improve strength in this area as well to optimize your function and minimize your pain. However, most importantly prevent future injuries.
Fit 4 Life Physiotherapy also offers 2 unique sub groups of Physiotherapy which are highly beneficial to quality of life.
Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy – This type of Physiotherapy is extremely helpful for men and women and help to reduce pelvic pain and incontinence (concerns with bowel or bladder control).
Pediatric Physiotherapy- can help children ranging from infants to adolescence.
Physiotherapy concerns in infancy – torticollis, plagiocephaly, delayed motor milestones,
Physiotherapy concerns in children- Genetic disorders (Muscular dystrophy, Down syndrome), juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, cerebral palsy, and so forth.
In summary, regardless of the reason you are attending our Winnipeg physio Clinic for a Physiotherapy appointment. Our goal is to perform a thorough assessment by getting to the root of the problem, not just treating the pain. A comprehensive exercise program will also be supplied and updated as needed to best suit rehabilitation progression, goals, and of course prevention of re injury.