What Is Physiotherapy & Who Is It For?

What Is Physiotherapy?

Physiotherapy Treatment Types, Benefits, and More

What is physiotherapy treatment? How does physiotherapy work? Physiotherapy can address a specific injury or condition or it can be used to slow down the aging process. In some cases, your doctor may recommend physiotherapy treatment. Keep reading to learn more about how physiotherapy helps and what physiotherapy is good for.

Who needs physiotherapy?

Physiotherapy is beneficial for anyone experiencing pain and/or reduced mobility. It helps people rehabilitate from surgery, illnesses like strokes, accidents, or sports injuries. It can also ease the symptoms of some chronic illnesses. Patients can get physiotherapy to help improve their athletic performance and also to minimize the stress work-related movements put on their bodies.

What are the types of physiotherapy?

There are at least 21 different types of physiotherapy. 

The four main types of physiotherapy include:

  • Sports physiotherapy
  • Geriatric physiotherapy
  • Pediatric
  • Orthopedic physiotherapy

When people are referred for physiotherapy they often wonder what conditions physiotherapy can treat. Well, the answer is, a lot! The main goal of physiotherapy is to help the patient improve their mobility, hopefully restoring it back to a point where they can move independently and painlessly.

Patients usually experience issues of pain and reduced mobility because of a major health crisis. This can be an illness, injury, or trauma. Problems could arise as a result of a chronic condition like Parkinson’s disease, the patient may have had a stroke, the patient may have experienced a sports-related injury or had an accident such as a slip and fall, and so on. It can also treat the physical effects of neurological issues such as an injury or illness or problems resulting from cardiopulmonary conditions.

Physiotherapy can be used as part of a wellness plan. To benefit from physiotherapy, you don’t necessarily need to have an underlying health problem. Some people want physiotherapy to improve sports performance, slow down the effects of aging, or help prevent repetitive strain injuries.

What will physiotherapy do?

Physiotherapy should help patients manage pain and improve mobility, balance, and motor function. Part of physiotherapy is truly connecting with patients. Every treatment plan is different. The techniques are more difficult than prescribing medication for pain relief. 

What is the best time for physiotherapy?

The best time to be treated with physiotherapy is if you notice that your mobility is compromised or you are experiencing pain. These issues can come from a traumatic injury, surgery, an illness, or simply as a result of repetitive strain. The sooner you have the issue addressed, the sooner you can begin the healing process. Generally, it is best to address problems before they get worse. Sometimes physiotherapy can help you avoid surgery or cope with a chronic illness.

Your provider may assign exercises for you to do. If possible, you should incorporate these exercises into a daily or weekly routine, depending on what you see fit.

How quickly does physiotherapy work?

How fast physiotherapy works depends on a number of things. The first is the patient’s condition. Some people have major trauma to recover from while other health issues are not as severe. The less complicated the situation, the less recovery time is needed, in most cases.

Another factor is the number of issues being treated. A patient that has mobility and balance issues as a result of trauma, may have a longer rehabilitation period than someone with a single issue. Patient participation can affect recovery times as well. If a patient follows the care plan diligently, they will likely recover faster than someone who doesn’t follow through with the plan as carefully.

Lastly, everyone heals at a different rate. Two people can have the same issue and one will recover much faster than the other.

Most treatment plans for soft tissue injuries take about 6-8 weeks because that is how long these types of injuries take to heal. You can expect to see the provider twice a week (or maybe more often) during the recovery period. Your progress should be assessed and the provider will let you know if more treatment is needed. Some people, though, may require ongoing treatment that can last many months due to the nature of their health issues.

The results of physiotherapy are more subjective than some other branches of medicine. It’s easy to determine when a broken arm has been healed but more difficult to say when someone’s balance has improved enough that they don’t need treatment anymore. Your provider can set the expectations for your treatment plan including when it should end.

How much do physiotherapy sessions cost?

Physiotherapy costs can vary depending on several factors such as location. On average, if the patient has insurance, they can expect a copay between $20-$55 dollars per session. If they don’t have insurance, a patient can expect to pay between $75-$150 per session. The first session may cost more because it will likely be an assessment that may be longer than follow-up sessions.

How does physiotherapy reduce pain?

There are many ways physiotherapy can help reduce pain. They can encourage the patient to exercise and stretch while providing techniques for proper movement. Not moving can cause pain to get worse. Movement usually helps reduce pain. They can manipulate soft tissue and sometimes employ massage techniques. This releases the body’s natural pain-blocking chemicals to help provide relief from pain. In some cases, a provider may use devices like ultrasound to treat pain. Sometimes pain relief is achieved fairly quickly but it can also take a while.

Does physiotherapy hurt the next day?

Most people are fine after a physiotherapy session, but sometimes, you can notice effects the next day. There might be some soreness, especially if you have had an injury or inflammation treated. Some people will experience bruising too. Other possible side effects you may notice the next day are skin irritations and/or headaches. Discuss possible side effects with your provider so you will know what to expect.

What are the pros of physiotherapy?

There are lots of advantages to getting physiotherapy. Some are wellness related such as overcoming age-related problems or improving balance and athletic performance. Some benefits help improve the quality of life for people dealing with chronic conditions or those recovering from an illness such as a stroke. Physiotherapy can help people recover from surgery more quickly and regain some or all of the functions they lost.

Whether you suffered knee surgery, hip surgery, broken bones, etc. – physiotherapy can help. It can also help people continue to function at work by treating conditions like poor posture and carpal tunnel syndrome. Physiotherapy is designed to help patients be able to have as much of their full range of motion as possible while reducing pain at the same time. As you can see, there are lots of benefits!

What are the cons of physiotherapy?

There are not many downsides to getting physiotherapy treatment. The biggest drawback is the cost. Even with most insurances, you will still need to pay at least a portion of the cost. In addition, you might need to buy additional equipment like exercise bands or weights which can be expensive. You may not like the exercises prescribed or they may be challenging. Some may see this as a downside. However, just know they were prescribed for a good reason. Sometimes people don’t respond to treatment. In cases like this, physiotherapy may not be effective.

How many physiotherapy sessions will I need?

The number of physiotherapy sessions you will need can depend on:

  • The nature of the issue being treated
  • The severity of the issue being treated
  • The expected outcome
  • How well you respond to healing
  • How well you are able to perform the exercises that you are given to do

Based on experience, your provider should be able to give you a fairly clear date as to when your treatments should end. People generally visit the clinic 1-3 times a week.

How is physiotherapy done?

Your therapist should start with an initial assessment to develop a customized care plan. The execution of the care plan can vary, depending on your needs.

Where can I schedule a physiotherapy appointment near me?

If your doctor has recommended physiotherapy for you, they may have referred you to physiotherapy. You may not want to use their referral or you may need to find your own physiotherapy. You can ask other health care practitioners for recommendations or search online for “physiotherapy near me.”

Why choose Portland Wellness Care for physiotherapy?

Portland Wellness Care specializes in physiotherapy, providing top-notch care that helps get you on the road to recovery. Portland Wellness Care sees patients from Monday-Saturday for your convenience. We accept most all private insurers. If you do not have insurance, give us a call and we will do everything we can to help you get the treatment you need. If you are in the Portland area and need physiotherapy, contact Portland Wellness Care.

Conclusion

Physiotherapy, also known as physical therapy, is an area of healthcare designed to treat the body so that patients can function independently with as little pain as possible. Seeking a highly-skilled reputable provider is an important ingredient for a successful wellness plan. At Portland Wellness Care, we strive to offer each patient a care plan that suits the severity of their needs. Every patient’s situation is different and therefore, they should all be treated differently. At Portland Wellness Care, we offer a custom care approach, rather than a one-size-fits-all. Our integrative injury rehab services are inclusive of physiotherapy, chiropractic care, acupuncture, and massage– all of which may be a part of a treatment plan to address your joint pain or injury. If you think physiotherapy might improve your quality of life, contact Portland Wellness Care today.

Can physiotherapy improve your quality of life? Call Portland Wellness Care to find out!

FREE CONSULTATIONS

Portland Wellness Care offers free consultations for patients who have questions, such as: What is the best treatment plan for me? What services will help me most? What the out-of-pocket costs might I incurred? How long will my treatment plan last?
or call us today at (971) 379-2455
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