World Physiotherapy day is a global physiotherapy perception and appreciation day commemorated and honored annually on 8th of September. This day accentuates the effectiveness of physiotherapy.
The line of physiotherapy yearns for the revival of disoriented gait pattern, lost potency and to enable the victim live independently by adopting a robust gait pattern conducive to relishing life.
Resuming the consideration of the significant day, it was nominated by world confederation for physical therapy (WCPT) in 1996. Since 2011 Pakistan is a segment of WCPT under the aegis of Pakistan Physical therapy Association (PPTA) stipulated in the zone of Asia Western Pacific region of WCPT. Thus Pakistan too lauds the day on this authoritative date of 8th September.
“CHRONIC PAIN” is the key theme of the year 2019.
Oxford Mini Dictionary & thesaurus has defined pain as ‘physical discomfort caused by injury or illness’ and chronic as ‘constantly present or recurring’.
Unlike ordinary pain that is short lived chronic pain takes a minimum period of about 12 weeks and a maximum period of about six months or longer to last and is sensed in sundry forms like piercing, pricking, throbbing, casting and occasionally burning too. Most often chronic pain develops in virtue of peculiar maladies like tendinitis, spine malformations, Endometriosis, Fibromyalgia, interstitial cystitis, arthritis, migraines and even carpel tunnel syndrome but at times it triggers as a consequence of no genuine grounds and agents.
Chronic pain is markedly involved in the gradual ebbing of the body owing to different psychological and physiological strengths. Psychological strengths are depression, anxiety (hooking in various abnormalities like nail biting, cold sweating with quivers, pins and needles and being antsy), mood swings, aberrant eating and misapprehension. Physiological influences are being poorly energized, appetite disorders, spastic and stiff muscles and restricted momentum.
Management of chronic pain is effectuated by a broad array of drugs and remedies. The spectrum hems in typical medications like muscle relaxants, anti depressants, analgesics. Likewise, physiotherapy incorporates in the management. It is highly conducive in soothing down the pain by making use of various techniques exclusively used for enhancement of mobility and efficacy of limbs.
Considering the perks of physiotherapy as a curative measure against chronic pain, an economical, harmless, reliable and chiefly a healthy one.
Mind body interventions (tai chi, meditation, biofeedback therapy, yoga, subjection towards hypnotism), bio-electric therapy, trigger point injections, consumption of vitamin D are healthy alternatives to go for.
Returning back to the discourse of physiotherapy’s line of work, succinctly it is a treatment tending towards the enhancing, reinstating and sustaining a victim’s gait cycle and well-being. It is a wellness program that goals to soothe down the pain, physical malformations and lesions mainly hailing from a few but distinguishing roots,
i. Neurological roots encompasses disorders arising within body’s nervous system.
ii. Muscular roots deteriorate muscles, joints, soft tissues, tendons and ligaments.
iii. Cardio respiratory roots covers diseases affecting heart, chest and lungs.
iv. Geriatric & pediatric roots refers to disorders and maladies emerging at an olden age and pediatric deformities.
Neurological physiotherapy adroitly fixates on neurological lesions such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, sciatica, Fibromyalgia, spine pertaining disorders, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy. Neurological physiotherapy boost up muscle receptivity and reinstates muscle atrophy.
Musculo skeletal physiotherapy competently considers muscular deformities which include arthritis, spine lesions etc. It ensures the physical conditioning i.e all skeletal components are working with integration and medicates immobility, incorrect skeleton alignment and soreness.
Cardio respiratory physiotherapy comprehensibly handle the descending condition by restraining and rehabilitating a victim undergoing (or may have underwent) a heart, chest and lungs ailments like pneumonia, COPD, angina. It has also proved to be worthwhile chip of a complete health care treatment in restoring the potency effectively following a heart and lung surgery.
Geriatric physiotherapy examines and workout the altered gait pattern ‘an adverse impact of ageing’. These aberrant gait patterns are manifested in diseases like osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s diseases, cancer and deformities in joint and hip replacement. Here the therapeutics targets to revive an immobile joint/ limb and other physical flaws.
Pediatric physiotherapy focuses on physically handicapped infants with a variety of malformations covering neurological, muscular, skeletal and developmental disorders. Undoubted each of the malformations adds to the impeded growth in the affected areas. Cerebral palsy and developmental delays are the common lesions. A pediatric physiotherapist work out to revive the lost vigor and endurance of the affected infant.
Other types of physio therapies successively shaping are
i. Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT), aims to restore the unstable condition of a vertigo victim. Besides vertigo, balance disorders, dizziness and other body systems effected by inner ear defects are regulated by VRT.
ii. Rehabilitation of women health, here the specialized physiotherapy rekindles the health of a female that usually deadens and tone out as a consequence of various disorders pertaining to female’s procreative system, barrenness and pre/post natal effects.
Modality in Physiotherapy
Modality are tools/techniques/modes used by a professional to function a specialized activity.
Modality in physiotherapy lulls down the restlessness induced by an impeded blood circulation and pain. These modality are also a yielding treatment against the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the body’s tissues i.e oedema and spasm.They are used in addition to the therapeutic exercises and other common methods.
i. Laser therapy: is a painless, non invasive and a light based therapeutic used against chronic pain and wound regenerating.
ii. Iontophoresis: administration of drug crosswise the skin to the impairing tissue and is a productive measure against oedema and inflammation.
iii. Phonophoresis: the administration of a drug to a maimed tissue crosswise the skin but unlike the iontophoresis by utilization of ultrasound waves and is carried out against headache, backache and muscle pain.
iv. Ultrasound therapy: is an ultrasound wave based used to produce a soothing effect against pain, tendinitis and other musculoskeletal lesions by deeply heating.
v. Thermo therapy: is the application of heat into the superficial surface of the skin, in order that the heat solely touches the dermis, fats and superficial tissues.
vi. Cryo therapy: is the application of cold pack/ ice packs to the apparent body tending to curtail down blood flow to the injuries, hold back oedema etc.
vii. Electrical stimulation: here the electric impulses are utilized for the easing down of the muscular pain and activating a dynamic and effective muscle cadence. E-stim has proved to be a one of the constructive remedy against Bell’s palsy.
viii. Traction: is a priceless therapeutic for back and neck pain. It is a lengthwise, steady tug usually done manually. It eliminates pain and upgrade mobility in spine.
Degree awarded in Physiotherapy
By this time the prevailing degree awarded in the field of physiotherapy at a bachelor level is DPT ‘a five year program’ followed by numerous at master level.
Upon the accomplishment of the bachelor degree the grad is entitled a ‘PHYSIOTHERAPIST’. A physiotherapist is a medical practitioner edified in various areas of rehab sciences. This rehab specialist reinstates and rehabilitates the potential and dexterity of momentum and makes the most of patient’s potency and maintain the well-being that once impaired not solely by exercise and gait therapy but by coaching and advocating. A physiotherapist trains a patient to be skillful enough, in order to shun off any chance of injuries as a result of ailments.
Vast knowledge, being vocal & affectionate and above all perfectly attentive to the patient are some of the essential characteristics retained by a proficient and reliable rehab specialist.
Boons of Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is a salutary treatment as it alleviates the discomfort by abating the pain, boosting up the cardiovascular functioning, calming down both pre/post surgery disorders and adds to the progressive physical activity. It also supplements in the curative measures for diabetes, sports lesions, anti-obesity and recuperative measure for stroke patients.
‘physical fitness is the first requisite in happiness’ (Joseph Pilates)