Physical therapy or psychotherapy is one of the disciplines in the healthcare profession that helps people of all ages restore, develop, and maintain maximum body movement. Different medical conditions can benefit from physical therapy, including carpal tunnel syndrome, muscular dystrophy, urinary incontinence, and back pain. When your baby has pediatric conditions such as developmental delays, or you have a limited range of motion due to rotator cuff tear, your physical therapist in Union Square will customize a physiotherapy program to improve your level of functioning.
Table of Contents
What are the types of physical therapy?
Geriatric physical therapy
This type of physical therapy addresses movement problems among the elderly. As you advance in age, your muscles and bones get weaker. This may result in stiffness and pain when engaging in mild activities such as bending and walking. Older people also quickly develop medical conditions, including arthritis which may limit mobility. This type of physiotherapy may involve light exercises to keep older people fit and stretching exercises to minimize muscle pains.
Pediatric physical therapy
This is the opposite of geriatric physical therapy, as pediatric therapy focuses on infants, toddlers, and adolescents. During childhood, growth is rapid, and some children need help to build up muscle strength and the skeletal system. This type of therapy deals with different issues, including genetic conditions, severe injuries, limb disabilities, congenital disabilities, and trauma in the head. Addressing such cases during the early stages prevents complications in the future.
Neurological physical therapy
Neurological physical therapy focuses on patients with spinal cord injuries, strokes, and multiple sclerosis problems. While medications may be used to improve symptoms such as pain, most of these neurological conditions are chronic – they require physical therapy to improve mobility and coordination of the affected area. Unlike other types of physical therapy, neurological therapy is not as intense and involving. Patients may regain full or partial autonomy depending on their medical problems.
Occupational physical therapy
Improper lifting in workplaces is among the most common causes of back injuries. Occupational therapy focuses on teaching you proper lifting techniques and the correct postures when doing manual work. Since the lower back is the most affected area, occupational therapy involves exercises that help build up the core and strengthen your upper body. Besides treating a specific place, occupational therapy is holistic as it improves your entire body’s functionality.
Why is physical therapy necessary?
· Physical therapy may help eliminate pain from an injury that would have otherwise required surgery. If surgery is needed, pre-surgery physical therapy facilitates better and faster recovery.
· Therapeutic exercises and techniques such as soft tissue mobilization involved in physical therapy reduce pain. Treatments such as electrical stimulation restore muscle and joint function and may also prevent pain from recurring.
· While sports put you at risk of obtaining injuries, physical therapy may help you recover from issues such as stress fractures. Your therapist can also design a prevention exercise program to reduce your risk of getting injuries.
· Physical therapy is also essential for patients with diabetes, as exercise plays a significant role in controlling blood sugar. It also helps with sensation problems in the feet and legs caused by diabetes.
Whether you are recovering from surgery, are injured, or have joint pain due to old age, visit your specialist at Shift Wellness for physical therapy to eliminate pain, restore, and improve your mobility.