Whether you’ve sprained your ankle or pulled your back, the first thing you want after an injury is to get back to your usual activities. What you’re looking for is guidance on how to get back as quickly and as safely as possible. That’s where physiotherapy can help.
Your physiotherapist will assess and diagnose your condition to determine how to help. This includes guidance through a rehabilitation program that is tailored to your individual needs, and may include a referral to your doctor if imaging or further medical intervention is necessary. Your physiotherapist will use treatment techniques such as manual therapy, exercise prescription, and advice on management of your injury to help you regain your normal function and deal with the underlying issues that may have led to your injury. This will ensure that you can safely return to your activities in a timely manner, and reduce the likelihood of future re-injury.
How Physiotherapy Works
There are three main elements of a physiotherapy session: assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation.
1. Assessment
The assessment consists of an evaluation of your injury to determine the root cause of the problem. This involves taking a thorough medical history, asking questions about your specific injury, and performing physical tests and measurements. This will help your physiotherapist better understand what you are experiencing so that they can develop a treatment plan specifically designed for you and your goals.
2. Treatment
Physiotherapy treatment will consist of different techniques to help get you moving better. This may include hands-on treatment such as manual therapy, education surrounding your specific condition and pain management strategies, and modalities such as heat, ice, dry
needling, or acupuncture. For example, someone with a sprained ankle may be given advice on how to rest to allow for proper healing, techniques to reduce swelling, exercises to regain mobility and strengthen around the ankle, and heat or ice as needed to control pain.
3. Rehabilitation
Your physiotherapist guides you through your rehabilitation journey, progressing your treatments based on your specific goal. This can mean progressing your exercises to be more sport-specific as you regain function, can consist of strategies for injury prevention, or lifestyle modifications that can help to manage your pain while optimizing your quality of life.
The Types of Injuries That Physiotherapy Can Help With
There are many different types of injuries that physiotherapy can help with. Some of the most common include:
● Sprains and strains (e.g. ankle sprain, pulled muscle)
● Tendinitis (e.g. Tennis Elbow, Achilles tendinitis, shin splints)
● Joint pain, such as from arthritis or bursitis
● Sports injuries
● Neck and back pain
● Headaches
● Chronic pain
Whether you’ve just suffered a minor injury or you’re dealing with a chronic condition, physiotherapy can help!
What to Expect From Your First Physiotherapy Appointment
If you’ve never been to physiotherapy, you might wonder what to expect from your first appointment. Here’s a quick rundown:
1. Your physiotherapist will ask about your medical history and the nature of your injury.
2. They will then perform a physical examination, which may involve tests and measurements.
3. Based on their findings, they will develop a treatment plan specifically for you.
4. The first few appointments will usually focus on pain relief and restoring function.
5. As you start to improve, the focus will shift to preventing further injuries and improving your overall well-being.
Physiotherapy is an extremely effective way to treat injuries and improve overall function and participation in activity. If you’re dealing with an injury, don't wait to seek treatment. The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll start feeling better.
Conclusion:
Whether you’ve just suffered an injury or you’re dealing with a chronic condition, physiotherapy can help. It’s important to start treatment as soon as possible after sustaining an injury to begin the healing process and get back to your normal activities as soon as possible. If you’re unsure whether physiotherapy is right for you, talk to your doctor or book an appointment with a physiotherapist today.
Get back to doing what you love the most.
Kanata / Ottawa residents! Are you dealing with pain or limited range of motion due to an injury or chronic illness?
Schedule an appointment with a licensed physical therapist today!
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