Ever had an injury or illness that affected your ability to move or perform daily tasks?
If yes, then chances are you have already encountered a physiotherapist at some point in your life. A physiotherapist is a professional who helps patients affected by illness, injury, or disability through physical rehabilitation. In other words, a physiotherapist is someone who could help patients with pain, balance, and motor function problems become more mobile. You can find the best physiotherapy services in Singapore offered at Physioactive (https://www.physioactive.sg/).
If you are thinking along the lines of, “Well, that is fairly easy to do – helping someone get back on their feet.”, then you are mistaken. Being a physiotherapist is not an easy job for it entails taking a holistic approach in treatment, working to improve not just the physical aspect of a person’s well-being, but also the mental, psychological, emotional, and social well-being, too. And their duties do not end there just yet – a physiotherapist works in all stages of healthcare, from early prevention, education, intervention, rehabilitation, and of course, treatment.
To learn more about physiotherapy, this article will discuss try to answer the following questions:
- What is the difference between physical therapy and physiotherapy?
- What are the reasons for visiting a physiotherapist?
- What problems do physiotherapists treat?
- What should I expect during my first visit to a physiotherapist?
Let us start with the first question: What is the difference between physical therapy and physiotherapy?
The terms ‘physical therapy’ and ‘physiotherapy’ are often used interchangeably so that it might prompt some inquiring minds to wonder what the differences are between the two. The truth is – there is no difference at all since the two words are synonyms. In Singapore and many parts of Asia, though, ‘physiotherapy’ is more commonly used than ‘physical therapy’ – the latter is more popular in the United States and other Western countries.
What are the reasons for visiting a physiotherapist?
Those who need physical therapy and those who have been referred by their doctor to address a certain condition or injury are the types of people you will usually see in a physiotherapist’s office, but there are plenty of other reasons why you might need to visit a physiotherapist in Singapore:
- Age-related: As we age, our body goes through a lot of changes that may impact function and movement, sometimes even causing impairment or total loss of one or both. A physiotherapist can help the patient regain some (if not all) of the function and at the same time, teach them how to cope with the loss.
- Major health issues: Stroke, trauma to the head, heart attack, and other life-threatening conditions can affect the normal functioning of a person’s body, which in turn, can make everyday life difficult for them. Physiotherapy can help the patient regain what is lost (in terms of function) or teach them ways on how to live life despite the loss.
- Injury and illness: Physiotherapy can help patients who are immobilized, experiencing a lot of pain, has problems in mobility and balance due to physical injuries and illnesses.
- Post-surgery care: One of the most crucial parts of post-surgery recovery is the ability to get up and move around. If there is/are body part/s that were affected – for example, the back, foot, or hand – physiotherapy can help.
- Chronic health conditions: A chronic health condition like diabetes can cause adverse effects to a person’s mobility and sense of balance.
- Optimizing physical performance: Athletes or people who are into sports who want to improve their physical performance may utilize physiotherapy to discover ways and strategies for optimizing the body’s full potential.
- Overall wellness: Physiotherapy in Singapore is not just for the athletes and the injured – you can consult a physiotherapist even if you do not have any existing health issue that requires physiotherapy. Some people start early with physiotherapy to fight the effects of aging, or they want to learn skills for staying flexible, mobile, and in overall good health condition.
What problems do physiotherapists treat?
Physiotherapists maintain health for people of all ages and some of the problems that they treat include:
- Cardiovascular, such as chronic heart disease and rehabilitation after a heart attack.
- Respiratory, such as cystic fibrosis and asthma
- Neurological, such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, cerebral palsy, concussion, vertigo, nerve damage, and multiple sclerosis
- Neuromusculoskeletal, such as arthritis, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatica, joint problems, foot conditions, and injuries related to sports
- Chronic, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity
What should I expect during my first visit to a physiotherapist?
On your first visit, the physiotherapist will have a good look at your personal medical history and any X-rays and tests that you may have. You will be asked questions about your lifestyle, the injury or illness that they will be treating as well as the medications that you are currently taking, if there are any. It is very important to be honest when answering the questions because your treatment plan will depend on them.
The physiotherapist may ask you to do simple tasks such as walking or bending to identify your capabilities and limitations, so make sure to water comfortable clothing on your first visit. Afterwards, they will discuss a customized physiotherapy program with you. This program will contain the activities that you need to do and the goals that you want to achieve after a specific amount of time.
During the follow-up appointments, you will be required to perform some movements or exercises to determine if your wellness and recovery goals have been reached.
If you have any question about physiotherapy, you can reach out to the Physioactive clinic in Singapore for more information. We have 14 international specialists who will be happy to assist you towards recovery. On top of that, we have clinics in five convenient locations so you can reach us easily.