Unit 5: Physiotherapy

Introduction
Physiotherapy is a form of treatment carried through the medium of
physical forcessuch as heat, electricity, mechanical pressure and mechanical
forces. Thus, in physiotherapy heat, electric current, water, soft tissue
manipulation, and exercises with or without resistance are utilized.
Physiotherapy is a health profession whose primary purpose is the promotion
of optimal human health by the application of scientific principles to
prevent, assess, corrector alleviate acute or prolonged movement dys-
function.

Definition
Physical Therapy is the science of treating people with physical
special needs (or those who may develop physical disabilities), to help them
minimize and/or maintain basic functional abilities (e.g., sitting, standing,
walking) and minimize their condition from progressing as much as possible.
This is accomplished through training for daily activities and treatment such
as Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy in using different methods of
available treatments.
Physical Therapy (PT), also known as Physio-therapy, was introduced
in the United States following WWI (1914) to rehabilitate soldiersfollowing
the war. The profession has grown to include many sub-specialities such as
orthopedics, sports, chronic pain syndrome, industrial rehabilitation for
injured workers, as well as, those recovering from injury, surgery, or
physical special needs from illness.

What is the purpose of Physical Therapy?

The purpose of Physical Therapy is to help your child return to
activelife as quickly as possible and to the best your child can accomplish.
Physical Therapy strives to reduce pain, increase flexibility, range of
motion, and function, build strength, and correct posture. Child/Parent
education is an important component in Physical Therapy.
Parents/children learn how their spine works, proper body
mechanics,common disorders and their causes, benefits of good posture,
importance of physical fitness and its relationship to illness and injury,
prevention and progress.

Branches of physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is a complex specialty, as it deals with all disciplines of
medicine.

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Development in this field has resulted in a variety of sub-specialization-.
1. Musculo-skeletal physiotherapy
The Musculo - Skeletal Physiotherapy is a branch, where application of
physiotherapyis involved in the treatment of physical ailments concerned
with structures surrounding the joint region such as Bones, Muscles,
Ligaments and Bursa. Some of the conditions dealt in this branch are: Muscle
pain, strain, Muscle tear Joint stiffness, Fracture, Ligament strain, sprain,
tear, Inability to walk, Inflammation of tendons and bursa, Joint pain, poor
posture, Joint inflammation in case of osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
Etc.
2. Cardio-Thoracic Physiotherapy:
Cardio - Thoracic Physiotherapy is concerned with the care of physical
fitness of the heart and lungs. This treatment specializes in clearing away
any chest secretions so as to enable and help an individual to breathe more
normally, and help in adequate oxygen supply to the healing wound and the
body. Some of the conditions treated under this branch are: Asthma,
Increased chest secretions other respiratory infections, etc.

3. Neurological Physiotherapy
Neurological Physiotherapy is concerned with the treatment arising
from the problemsin brain, Nerves of the brain, Spinal cord and nerves of
the spinal cord and meninges. Some of the conditions which physiotherapy is
essential part of treatment are: Stroke, ataxia, cerebral palsy, Spinal cord
injury, peripheral nerve injuries, etc.

4. Physiotherapy in Rehabilitation
Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation goes hand in hand. Rehabilitation is
nothing but bringing back a physically disabled individual to near normal
condition by using his maximum existing capacities. Rehabilitation in
physiotherapy involves training and retraining of physical activity in a
physically disabled individual. Different types of rehabilitations, where
physiotherapy is involved: Stroke Rehabilitation, Geriatric/ Old age
Rehabilitation, Cardiac Rehabilitation and Amputee (person who has lost the
limb) Rehabilitation.

5. Physiotherapy in Obstetrics
Physiotherapy in obstetrics is concerned with postural care and
physical fitness of women during pregnancy and after child birth.

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6. Sports Physiotherapy
Sports physiotherapy is specialized for sports persons. Guidance in
sport activities like techniques of warming up period, cooling down period,
guidance in lifting techniques and also treatment of sport injuries are dealt.
Some of the conditions under this are: Any Muscle spasm (pain and tightness
of muscle), Muscle strain, Ligament sprain, tear, all other sports injuries.

7. Physiotherapy in fitness and postural care

This branch is concerned with guidance and care for physical fitness,
good posturalcare and Body muscle built. Some of the conditions dealt are:
Obesity/ Over-weight, Poor Posture (Hunch back), Good muscle built, etc.

8. Pediatric Physiotherapy
This branch of physiotherapy treatment is for the children born with
physical disabilitiesand also for the children undergoing any surgery,
requiring physiotherapy care. Some of the conditions dealt here are: Club
foot- before and after a surgery, Respiratory infections, Fractures in
children, Cerebral palsy, etc.

Scope of physiotherapy
The scope of physical therapy practice is dynamic and responsive to
patient/client and societal health needs. With the development of
knowledge and technological advances, periodic review is required to ensure
that scope of practice reflects the latest evidence base and continues to be
consistent with current health needs. Research is continually providing new
evidence upon which future practice will be built.

The scope of physical therapy services

Physical therapy is an essential part of the health and
community/welfare services delivery system. Physical therapists practice
independently of other health care/service providers and also within
interdisciplinary rehabilitation/habilitation programmes to prevent, gain,
maintain or restore optimal function and quality of life in individuals with
loss and disorders of movement.
Physical therapists are guided by their own code of ethical principles.
Thus, they may be concerned with any of the following purposes:
1. Promoting the health and well-being of individuals and the general
public/society-Emphasizing the importance of physical activity and
exercise.

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2. Preventing impairments, activity limitations, participatory restrictions
and disabilities in individuals at risk of altered movement behaviors
due to health or medically related factors, socio-economic stressors,
environmental factors and lifestyle factors.
3. Providing interventions/treatment to restore integrity of body systems
essential to movement, maximize function and recuperation, minimize
incapacity, and enhance the Quality of life, independent living and
workability in individuals and groups of individuals with altered
movement behaviors resulting from impairments, activity limitations,
Participatory restrictions and disabilities modifying environmental,
home and work access and barriers to ensure full participation in
one’s normal and expected societal roles. Physical therapists may also
contribute to the development of local, national and international
Health policies and public health strategies.

General goals of physiotherapy

The goals of physiotherapy are to improve mobility and strength, to
relieve pain andto restore physical function. This enables you to resume
your regular activities of daily living including work, school, recreational
activities, home-making and/or self care. If the injury or disease is severe in
nature, the goal is to assist you in returning to your maximal function.
Physiotherapy provides benefits by use of a non-invasive approach.
The Goals of Physiotherapy are to facilitate and maximize recovery and
functional mobility following a musculoskeletal or neurological injury.

Physiotherapy reaches these goals through:

1. Reduction of pain.
2. Acceleration in healing of injured.
3. Maintenance or restoration of normal range of motion in affected joints.
4. Prevention of fibrosis or soft tissue contractures in injured, weak or
paralyzed limbs.
5. Prevention of disuse atrophy during healing phases of neurological and
musculoskeletal insults.
6. Improvement of strength and function in weak and paralyzed muscles.
7. Improved performance and quality of movement.
8. Positive psychological effects maximizing both pet and owner’s well-
being.
9. Provision of individualized home care program to maximize functional
Mobility and prevent injury.

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EXERCISE THERAPY
Exercise therapy is a means of accelerating the patient’s recovery
from injuries anddiseases which have altered his normal way of living. The
aims of exercise therapy
1. To promote activity and minimize the effects of inactivity.
2. To increase the normal range of motion.
3. To strength the weak muscles.
4. To improve the performance in daily activities

Exercise Therapy Equipments

1. Suspension frame
Tubular
Tubular steel construction, with
welded steel rod
rod-mesh
mesh at the top for
complete suspension with slings &
ropes. Mesh facilitate suspension at
any desired point in relation to the
indivi--
patient and as required in each indivi
dual case. Suspension therapy is the
treatmen
treatment given to the patient to
improve
mprove ROM, and muscle strength
and support body parts by using slings and ropes.

2. Static cycle
A static cycle (also known as exercise
bicycle, exercise bike, or exercycle) is a
device with saddle, pedals, and some form
of handl
handlebars
ebars arranged as on a bicycle, but
used as exercise equipment rather than
transportation.
An exercise bicycle is usually a special
Purpose
urpose exercise machine resembling a
bicycle without true wheels, but it is also
possible to adapt an ordinary bicycle for
stationary exercise by placing it on bicycle rollers or a trainer. Rollers and
trainers are often used by racing cyclists to warm up before racing, or to
train on their own machines indoors.

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3. Treadmill
A treadmill is a device generally for walking
or running
running while staying in the same place.
One of the most popular types of home
exercise equipment is the tread
tread-mill,
mill, which
provides a straight forward, efficient aerobic
workout. Treadmills are a good choice to begin
a new exercise routine because walking is well
tolerated by most individuals regardless of
fitness level and for most back conditions.
As strength and endurance are developed, the
treadmill can be used for jogging and/or for
interval training.

4. Quadriceps Table
Designed for effective administration ooff
progressive resistance exercises to the knee
joint muscle groups. Both quadriceps and
hamstrings can be exercised without
changing the position of patient.

5. Shoulder Wheel
The Shoulder Wheel is just such a
mechanism it allows patients to perform
resistance exercises to improve range of
resistance
motion and relieve pain. The Shoulder
Wheel is constructed of a 37"
37"-diameter
diameter
steel tube wheel fitted with a resistance
mechanism that revolves smoothly around a
drum to provide a varied arc of motion from
10° to 39°. By setting the handle to a
specific position, resistance is controlled from
0 to the maximum through a calibrated
sensitive resistance mechanism. The Shoulder Wheel is mounted on 3
laminated hardwood boards to easily attach to tthe
he wall. The wheel can be
adjusted up to a height of 26" to fit all users.

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6. Hand Exerciser
Hand Exerciser with Spring
Spring-Loaded
Loaded
Buttons. Ergonomically engineered to
fit comfortably in the palm of the hand,
it isolates and develops finger strength,
co-ordination
co ordination and flexibility using dif
dif-
ferent resistance levels. This versatile
hand exerciser can work individual
fingers or be compressed as 1 unit to
improve hand, wrist and fore-
fore
fore-arm
arm
strength as it identifies, tracks and gives immediate positive feedback on
the user’s progress.

7. Medicine ball
A medicine ball workout will add strength
to your core, chest and arms and help
improve your balance and flexibility. Also,
it does not put any pressure on your joints,
while you strength train with it and will help
give you a good workout without the risk of
an injury.

8. Swiss ball
An exercise ball, also known as a Swiss
Ball, is a ball constructed of soft elastic
W ith a diameter of approximately 35 to
With
85 centimeters (14 to 34 inches) and filled
W ith air. The air pre
With ssure is changed by
pressure
removing a valve stem and either filling
with air or letting the ball deflate. It is
most often used in physical therapy,
athletic training and exercise. It can also
be used for weight training. The ball,
while often referred to as a Swiss ball, is
also known by a number of different names, including balance ball, birth
ball, body ball, ball, fitness ball, gym ba
ball,
ll, gymnastic ball, physio
physio--ball,
ball,
pilates ball, Pezzi ball, sports ball, stability ball, Swedish ball, therapy ball,
or yoga bball.
all.

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9. Abduction ladder
Shoulder Abduction Ladder - Ladder made of
polished hard wood having Thirty numbered steps
for shoulder abduction exercises. It is used to
increase the range of motion of the shoulder.

10. Parallel bar

Parallel bars are used in rehabi
rehabilitation
litation or therapy centers to help patients
regain strength, range of motion, balance and independence as they learn to
walk again or regain coordination. Parallel bars
can
an be used for patients who need to learn how
to walk again, increase their range of motion,
regain muscle and learn how to walk without the
use of a walker, crutches or cane. Parallel bars
allow patients to slowly take their first steps with
the support of their hands and with the guidance
of a physical therapist. As patients are able to
regain their mobility, they will be able to tran
tran-
sition from using the parallel bars to walking on
the ground without the assistance of a person or device.

11. Tilt table

Physical therapists use tilt tables to provide
early weight bearing experiences for patients
patients
too weak to stand on their own. Tilt tables also
help patients with orthostatic hypotension
hypotension——a a
significant drop in blood pressure that occurs
when they move from a prone to a sitting
position. To use a tilt table, the patient lies
on top of the table on her back. The physical
therapist secures the safety straps around the

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patient, then slowly elevates the table, putting the patient into a standing
position, while monitoring her blood pressure and heart rate throughout the
treatment. Tilt
Tilt table treatments can prevent osteoporosis via weight
bearing, as well as ankle contractures, blood clots, pulmonary embolism and
other bed rest complications for the hospitalized patient.

12. Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a cha iwrith wheels.
The device come
comess in variations allowing
Either
ither manual propulsion by the seated
occupant turning the rear wheels by hand,
or electric propulsion by motors. There are
often handles behind the seat to allow it
to be pushed by another person.
Wheelchairs are used by people fforor
whom walking is difficult or impossible due
to illness, injury, or disability
disability.

13. Crutches
A crutch is a mobility aid that transfers weight from the legs to the upper
body. It is often used for people who cannot use their legs to support their
weight, for reasons ranging from short term injuries to lifelong disabilities.
short-term
Axillary crutches, elbow crutches and forearm crutches
crutches.

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