Massages and heat treatments are often helpful for complaints of muscles and joints. These methods are counted among the so-called physical therapy. But muscular problems are not the only ailments that can be treated with the help of physical therapy. What exactly is physical therapy and when is it used? Find out that and more here.
What is physical therapy?
Physical therapy is a branch of physiotherapy that includes the forms of medical treatment based on physical methods, or the body’s physiological response to external stimuli. These include:
- Massages such as classical massages, reflexology and lymphatic drainage.
- Cold and heat therapies (thermotherapy).
- Treatments with direct current (electrotherapy)
- Treatments with ultrasound (ultrasound therapy)
- Treatments with infrared and UV light (PUVA and phototherapy).
- Water treatments (hydrotherapy)
- Occupational therapy
- Balneotherapy (inhalation therapy, for example for psoriasis, asthma or cystic fibrosis).
The difference with physiotherapy is that physiotherapy as a generic term includes both physical therapy and physiotherapy. For example, manual therapy is also counted as part of physiotherapy.
Goals of physical therapy
According to the definition from the German continuing medical education regulations for specialists, physical and rehabilitative medicine include “secondary prevention, detection, specialized diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation for diseases, injuries, and their consequences using the methods of physical therapy, manual therapy, naturopathic treatments, and balneo- and climatotherapy, as well as the design of the rehabilitation plan.” Thus, physical therapy is not exclusively for treatment, but also, for example, for the detection and prevention of diseases and ailments, as well as for rehabilitation.
Physical therapists and rehabilitation physicians
Specialists in physical and rehabilitative medicine mostly work in rehabilitation clinics. The training period is five years and includes three years in this specialty as well as one year each in internal medicine and surgery. Physiotherapists are not only found in rehabilitation facilities, but also in private practices and therapy centers. Here, patients are treated on an outpatient basis.
Who gets physical therapy?
Physical therapy measures are always used when pain or functional limitations have occurred due to overload, as a result of wear and tear and degradation processes, after operations or after serious injuries such as those caused by accidents or strokes. With the aid of physical therapies, it is intended to:
- The normal function be restored
- The affected person be relieved of pain
- Mobility (mobility) and quality of life are improved
- About the improvement of blood circulation and nutrient supply of the various tissues the responsiveness and general physical fitness are increased
- Healing processes in skin diseases are supported
As part of a therapeutic catalog of measures, physical therapy is usually covered by health insurance. This also applies to the measures taken at established physiotherapists outside the hospital and in health resorts.
Choosing the right form of therapy
Precisely because there are so many different treatment options within physical therapy, choosing the right therapy is critical. The following example shows why this is so important: In older people, diseases and chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and heart failure occur more frequently. This can limit the use of some therapeutic measures, including physical therapy. Because physical measures have a direct influence on bodily functions, it is important to take into account the specific changes in the function of organ systems. In old age, the heart and circulatory system are generally less resilient, and the elasticity of the skin decreases. The connective tissue, the supporting tissue for the skeleton and bones, and the vascular system are also no longer as elastic as they were in younger years. In addition, the sensitivity of the skin nerves decreases and the muscle mass dwindles.All these factors must be taken into account when, for example, physiotherapy exercises are to be performed, because the scope of the respective exercises, the duration and the exercise equipment must be selected accordingly. Therefore, it is important that the attending physician inquires about possible pre-existing conditions as part of the medical history and prescribes a form of therapy that fits the particular case. Since physical measures are predominantly passive, meaning that there is no active cooperation from the patient, they are often more suitable for older people.
Tailor physical measures to the individual
Physical therapies must always take into account the patient’s individual state of health. This is true for all patients, however, as the example just demonstrated, but especially for older ones. Regardless of whether it is massage, bath therapy, or electrotherapy, physical therapy is taxing on the body – directly and immediately. Thus, before beginning therapy, the therapist must know the patient and his or her illnesses in order to assess the patient’s individual tolerance for exertion. It is also important to establish a treatment goal with the patient that fits into the framework of the overall treatment plan. After all, with many physical measures, the success of treatment can only be achieved with the patient’s cooperation.