Physiotherapy - Commonly Asked Questions
If you suffer from neck pain, even the simplest of tasks becomes a challenge. Scheduling an appointment with a physiotherapist will help restore your range of motion, and recovery will be faster and safer. neck pain experts employ a wide range of physical treatments that reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and help strengthen the neck and supporting musculature.
Methods and exercises used in the correction of neck pain and related problems vary from person to person. To determine the source of your discomfort, a physiotherapist will assess your neck and spine. Then we will recommend a suitable safe treatment.
Recommended neck pain exercise programs feature a combination of:
- Neck strengthening exercises
- Trigger point exercises
- Aerobic conditioning
- Stretching
If you experience tingling or numbness in your neck, clicking or grating bones, fainting, and dizziness, or muscle spasms. You should see a doctor or physiotherapist immediately.
Yes. A series of specialised physiotherapy exercises will help relieve shoulder pain.
To treat shoulder pain the doctor or physiotherapist will examine your functional abilities, range of motion and strength. The results will help in crafting a personalised treatment plan that will restore mobility and relieve pain. Treatment options include shoulder joint stabilisation, strengthening, stretching, and in some cases electrical stimulation or athletic taping.
Physiotherapists may also recommend a shockwave therapy.
Physiotherapy increases shoulder mobility and reduces pain in joints, muscles, and tendons. However, Treatment depends on the underlying cause of the pain or discomfort. That is why it is vital that you contact a certified physiotherapist if you experience pain or discomfort for more than a week.
Trying therapy on your own may worsen the problem.
Yes. A physiotherapist may consider active or passive therapy to relieve knee pain.
Physical therapy may help relieve knee discomfort and pain caused by repetitive strain, trauma and arthritis. Medical experts recommend seeking help as early as possible when you develop discomfort or pain in your knee. The longer you wait, the more challenging treatment may become.
Doctors work with physiotherapists to help people living with arthritis regfincain or maintain independence and self-management. Knee physiotherapy reduces pain and swelling and increases knee flexibility, strength, balance, and endurance. Depending on the cause of pain, a therapist may recommend an ultrasound, electrical stimulation, or manual therapy. Heat and cold treatment may also help.
Active and passive physiotherapy helps to heal and rehabilitate the spine.
Physiotherapists tailor treatments to help patients suffering from spine pain. After an examination or ultrasound, your physiotherapist may recommend manual therapy, flexibility/strengthening exercises, electrical stimulation, or heat and cold treatments. But, treatment depends on the underlying cause, so it is crucial that you do not self-diagnose.
If you experience lower back pain for more than a few days, consult with a physiotherapist or doctor. Also, stay active: a lack of movement in the spine may slow down recovery.
Physiotherapy may help relieve spine pain caused by lumbar spinal stenosis, fractures, herniated disk, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, degenerative disk disease, and spine tumours. Aerobics, strengthening, and stretching exercises help patients build strength, regain physical function, and improves their quality of life.
To keep your spine healthy or relieve pain, we recommend:
- Wear shoes that support your spine
- Get a back massage regularly
- Practice ergonomics.
- Keep your spine naturally aligned while sitting, sleeping, or working.
Physiotherapy promises long-term freedom from mild and chronic back pain. Back pain affects the way you stand, walk, sleep, and work. Physiotherapy is a natural treatment that works. Independent studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine concluded that physical therapy results in better physical function and pain relief than glucocorticoid injections. Majority of the studies found that physiotherapy decreases pain, improves joint function, and may help prevent further damage. During treatment, passive physical therapy will help reduce pain to a manageable level, whereas active exercises such as stretching will help strengthen back muscles.
Your lower back supports the upper body and spinal column. Consequently, pain or discomfort in this area will impact your quality of life. Physiotherapy helps to strengthen and straighten your lower back. Treatment improves spinal support, minimises body stiffness, and it increases blood flow.
Spinal balance exercises and strengthening exercises help your body heal faster and may provide long-term relief for back pain.
Pregnancy, sciatica, herniated/ruptured discs, and strains and sprains are the main causes of lower back pain. Physiotherapy corrects these issues by improving movement and function of the joints using targeted exercise. Depending on the cause, your physiotherapist may recommend lower back pain exercises, including knee-to-chest stretches, bridging exercises, spine stretch, pelvic tilt, partial crunches, aerobics, or a specialised treatment plan just for you.
Yes! Active and passive wrists exercises can help prevent or cure wrist pain.
A sore wrist is an inconvenience at home and at the workplace. Certain activities, including lifting, repetitive tasks, or tool operation, may contribute to this type of pain and discomfort. A physiotherapy-based treatment plan will relieve the pain through patient-specific exercise, control inflammation and discomfort using medicine and exertion, and allow tendon and muscle healing through rest. Physiotherapists craft treatment plans by conducting a physical exam. The exam checks for points of tenderness and discomfort and helps the therapist or doctor find any underlying issue.
If an underlying issue is found, your physiotherapist will craft a suitable treatment regimen.
When treatment begins, the purpose is to restore your range of motion, strength, and ease shaking. Therapists may apply a custom wrist splint, recommend not using the arm for some time, or propose an ultrasound. Manual wrist physiotherapy techniques include deep tissue massage, targeted stretches, and gentle joint passive mobilisations.
Tennis Elbow is a painful condition that can turn the simplest of tasks into a nightmare. Suddenly picking up a kettle becomes near impossible, constant pain hinders rest, and the condition will affect your work. Physiotherapy relies on patient-specific exercises to help relieve Tennis Elbow and Golfers' Elbow.
Doctors recommend pain relievers, rest, and physiotherapy.
Normally, Tennis Elbow heals on its own, it may take some days or even months. However, Physiotherapy hastens the healing process by improving blood flow to the tendons and reduces inflammation. To make the pain more manageable, a physiotherapist may recommend muscle stimulation, ice massage or straps, tape, or braces for support.
Knowing when to start exercising the arm is vital in that it prevents you from exacerbating the problem. Also, recommended exercises depend on some factors, including health and underlying conditions. Therefore, if you have Tennis Elbow, working with a physiotherapist is faster and safer. Some suggested exercises include ball squeeze, wrist flexor stretch, wrist extensor stretch, wrist turn, and eccentric and concentric exercise. Risk factors include tennis, fencing, weight lifting, typing, painting, raking, knitting, and other repetitive motions.
Physiotherapy is not a cure for arthritis, but it helps reduce pain and stiffness caused by arthritis. If you have moderate to severe arthritis, physiotherapy consisting of deep tissue massage and manual therapy may help prevent further damage to joints. Through physical movement, physiotherapy also increases mobility.
The treatment works by strengthening muscles in your joints and replenishing lubrication. According to medical research, manual therapy also helps to control pain, joint swelling and decreases fatigue. Physiotherapists create custom therapeutic exercises suitable for patients with arthritis. If you have arthritis, the benefits of physiotherapy include:
- Increased joint lubrication
- Weight management reduces pressure on joints.
- Improved range of motion.
- Increased muscle mass near joints.
- Keeps symptoms from escalating into severe arthritis pain.
Aerobic exercises, anaerobic exercises, and flexibility exercises are some examples of physiotherapy techniques used to ease pain and reduce stiffness in joints.
Physiotherapy helps injured ankles heal faster. Your ankle is a complex structure consisting of bones, muscles, and ligaments. It gives you stability and allows you to walk. Spraining or breaking your ankle will result in severe pain, and you may have to stay off your feet for days or months, depending on severity. Sprain stretches your ligaments, and given time, will heal on its own. However, a severe sprain may lead to long-term problems, including arthritis and cartilage injury.
If pain persists for more than a few days, you should see a doctor or physiotherapist. During treatment, your physiotherapist or doctor may recommend the following exercises to help you maintain your range of motion.
- Towel and tissue scrunch.
- Towel stretches
- Standing calf stretch
- Heel raises
- One leg balance
- Elastic band push
- Ankle out/ankle in
Your ankle may require physiotherapy if there is extreme bruising, swelling, or pain that does not improve over the first few days after the injury. Physiotherapy will help relieve pain, may prevent arthritis, and restore your range of motion.
Yes. Physiotherapy is an effective treatment for cranial and facial discomfort. Using manual pressure or a suitable treatment plan, physiotherapists can help relieve regular headaches and migraines.
The source of your headaches could be muscle tightness, stress, muscle imbalances, poor posture, muscle weakness, poor sleeping posture, dehydration, and plenty more. During treatment, a physiotherapist will pinpoint the cause of your headaches then craft a suitable treatment plan. Physiotherapy treatment plans for headaches involve exercises that loosen, relax, and strengthen neck muscles. Other options include neck and cranial massage.
Your physiotherapist may also recommend some lifestyle changes, including limiting screen time.
Yes. Physiotherapy may help prevent or cure incontinence.
Incontinence is not a normal or an inevitable part of ageing. Through physiotherapy, it is possible to cure or prevent this uncomfortable condition.
Incontinence is often the result of pressure changes in the abdomen. You may experience a tiny leakage or a total loss of bladder control when you cough, sneeze, lift, or after urination. Physiotherapists help to cure incontinence through a patient-specific muscle fibre training. The treatment program includes directives in volitional instructions during and before any activity that causes incontinence.
Your physiotherapist will recommend and demonstrate exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor, if pregnant, show you how to prevent incontinence, or in some cases, recommend lifestyle changes. Remember, treatment is patient-specific, making it crucial to consult with a physiotherapist.
At risk individuals, include pregnant women, athletes who engage in regular aerobic activities, family history of incontinence, and people with eating disorders. Also, incontinence affects both men and women.
Medical research has proven that physiotherapy can improve posture. Using a combination of physiotherapy exercises, straps stretch, and hands-on treatment, physiotherapists can help correct your posture. The treatment also relieves back pain, headaches, and neck problems. Postural realignment in physiotherapy offers you benefits including pain reduction, improved function, better posture, loosening and straightening joints, and increased muscle strength. Depending on the severity, a physiotherapist may recommend corrective exercises that will improve strength and flexibility, joint mobilisation, soft tissue massage, manual therapy, and ergonomic living.
Physiotherapy exercises that correct posture include chin tucks, wall angel, chest stretch, lumbar rotation, cat and camel poses, and shoulder blade squeeze. Contact a physiotherapist near you to find out which option best suits you.