A Short History Of Rehabilitation Physiotherapy

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Rehabilitation physiotherapy is, shortly put, a type of treatment to aid individuals restore, develop or maintain maximum movement and function. It’s a sad fact that most of us will, at some point, lose some motor function. Whether it’s as a result of an illness of some kind, old age, or an accident or injury, a vast majority of us will have to have some kind of rehabilitation physiotherapy at some stage in life.

It’s an old, old form of treatment, and was first used, we believe, by Hippocrates. Rehabilitation physiotherapy is a gentle form of manipulation, and has been a separate professional strata of medicine since the early 1800’s. Massage, manipulation and exercise form the basis of the treatment, with traction being a key element of many types of rehabilitation physiotherapy.

Surprisingly for many, physio is used for the rehabilitation of cardiopulmonary patients for whom effective blood circulation is essential. One of the key targets of this kind of rehabilitation physiotherapy is to increase endurance and functional independence. It makes sense that ease of movement will lead to greater levels of exercise.

Similarly, there is a specific branch of rehabilitation physiotherapy that is concerned solely with the elderly, namely geriatric this encompasses many illnesses commonly linked to the older generation such as arthritis, osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s. In many cases, complications such as hip replacements or heart issues can become a block to rehabilitation, so, overcoming these is where it really can help.

Neurological issues can also be aided by rehabilitation physiotherapy. Disorders such as Parkinson’s, cerebral palsy and MS can all be aided to some extent by physio, which trains the muscles as much as possible to aid in independence for those afflicted with these disorders.

Orthopedic issues are probably the most widely known of the ailments that require rehabilitation physiotherapy. Sporting injuries and any kind of damage to the musculoskeletal system can be helped immensely with the addition of regular physiotherapy. Most of us know someone who has regained full use of a limb or part of the body after some kind of injury, and for the most part, physio is involved in that. Pediatric and inegumentary physio are less well know aspects of the science, and are concerned with early detection of health issues and skin issues. What many people aren’t aware of is that the lymphatic system which circulates fluids just under your skin, is hugely important to your well being, and without gentle movement, it can slow to damaging levels. Physiotherapy of any kind will help this alone, if nothing else.

So physio isn’t just for beefy rugby players who have suffered a knock, but there are specific branches of it to deal with a majority of ailments that we can all suffer, whether we’re young or old. Rehabilitation therapy is a route to consider for many disorders of the body, and needn’t be tiring or painful in the slightest.

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Is Pilates Physiotherapy The Right Move?

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So, you’re getting on a bit and are thinking about pilates physiotherapy, are you? Well, Pilates isn’t just a think for sporty types and ballerinas, it can help you greatly as well. So what exactly is pilates? Well, developed in the early 20th century buy a German chap called Joseph Pilates, and is based around the idea of using the mind to control the muscles. The key thing about pilates physiotherapy is that it focuses on the core postural muscles, which is the lynchpin to balance and keeping the rest of your muscles in top form.

Pilates physiotherapy also focuses on breathing and providing support for the spinal column, which in and of itself will help with pretty much any muscular or orthopedic ailment you have. Of course, you need not necessarily buy into the more spiritual aspect of the training, but it’s a fantastic way to support any physio you’re undergoing for whatever reason. One of the key aspects to pilates physiotherapy is that you never push your joints further than the ligaments should, meaning that it’s an entirely risk free form of exercise.

You will find, if you do any length of pilates physiotherapy, that you will build the centre of your body into a powerhouse of well-balanced muscles. This encompasses the abs, lower back, hips and buttocks – many of the places we feel are a little too flabby anyway. From here, you will find that other muscles groups will benefit greatly with your increased flexibility and strength.

You will find pilates physiotherapy easier in some respects than other forms of physio, but harder in one key element, namely concentration. One of the key tenets of the whole philosophy is that you have no superfluous movement, and everything is kept very much in control. This doesn’t come naturally to many, but it can also be a benefit in and of itself, particularly with learning to build muscle memory again after any kind of trauma or degenerative muscle ailment such as Parkinson’s disease.

There are a number of pieces of equipment you may need to purchase in order to complete the full set of pilates physiotherapy exercises, which can be found at your local gym or online. These will help you access the full range of exercises, but may not be necessary for some, depending on your level of involvement. They are relatively cheap and simple, including large rubber bands, balls and springs.

Whatever your ailment, or even if you are just looking for a preventative measure to put off the inevitability of old-age inflexibility, pilates physiotherapy is amongst the best set of exercises you can do to keep yourself fit and healthy.

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Is Physiotherapy Treatment Right For You?

Physiotherapy Treatment should normally begin with an assessment of some kind. This usually takes the form of a chat about your medical and muscular history. Once a Physiotherapy Treatment practitioner understands your history, they are better placed to deal with whatever ailment you currently have. This assessment may also include some initial diagnostic tests to [...]

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