Physiotherapy is a way of treating and preventing various diseases by influencing the human body with factors of natural or artificial origin. The method of physiotherapy is often prescribed during periods of rehabilitation after illness and is perfectly combined with traditional medical treatment regimens. In the absence of contraindications, the use of physiotherapeutic techniques significantly accelerates the healing process and alleviates the patient’s condition.
Advantages of the technique:
The advantages of this method of treatment are several:
- Clinical efficacy with simultaneous administration of drugs prescribed by a specialist.
- Absence of side effects.
- Increasing the effectiveness of the action of certain medications several times.
- Prolongation of the period of remission in the treatment of chronic diseases, during which characteristic symptoms do not occur.
- Lack of addiction, which can occur with prolonged use of certain groups of drugs.
- Painless.
- Prevention of a wide range of diseases.
- The absence of the effect of undesirable interaction – you can use several methods of treatment at the same time, while there is no question of their incompatibility (unlike drugs).
- Absence of toxic manifestations.
When selecting treatment methods, a specialist can develop an individual scheme taking into account the characteristics of the patient’s body and adjust it in the absence of a visible clinical effect.
WHAT IS PHYSIOTHERAPY FOR?
Using his experience and knowledge in the field of medicine, the doctor can prescribe physiotherapy for the prevention and treatment of pathologies of almost any body system. Among them:
- nervous system – sclerosis, consequences of stroke, Parkinson’s disease, paralysis, neuropathy, neuritis;
- respiratory system – lung obstruction, bronchitis, asthma;
- cardiovascular system – chronic disorders in the work of the heart, recovery after illness, hypertension, venous diseases;
- musculoskeletal system – osteochondrosis, arthrosis, arthritis, injuries, fractures;
- skin diseases – neurodermatitis, psoriasis, eczema;
- gastrointestinal system – ulcers, gastritis, colitis.
In addition to the above pathologies, physiotherapy is prescribed for a number of other diseases.
TYPES OF PHYSIOTHERAPEUTIC EFFECTS
The specialist selects the treatment depending on the general condition of the patient, the severity of the disease, age and other features. There are many methods of physiotherapy of artificial and natural origin. Among them, the following are especially popular:
- Electrotherapy – exposure to electric current. Its use allows you to accelerate the process of wound healing, restore tissues, affect the muscles, normalize the circulatory process, reduce the intensity of painful sensations, increase the rate of absorption.
- Magnetotherapy – the method is based on the use of devices that create a magnetic field. It has a relaxing effect, relieves swelling, pain, slows down inflammatory processes, triggers regeneration processes, has a vasodilating effect.
- Shockwave therapy. This method of physiotherapy helps to neutralize or prevent adhesion processes due to the given pulses of large amplitude, normalize the mobility of the joints, relieve pain.
- Laser therapy – the patient is affected by a directed laser beam. When using the light flux, the processes of regeneration and renewal, immunomodulation are actively launched, pain and discomfort are reduced.
- Myostimulation is the impact of weak impulse currents that can contract muscles. The procedure is often prescribed in the absence of physical activity of the patient, but can also relieve overstrain in the muscles. The method restores tissue tone, contributes to the normalization of metabolic processes.
- Phonophoresis is a combination of drugs and ultrasonic vibrations. Under their action, the rate of penetration of drugs into the body and the effect of their use increases.
- CMT-therapy – the technique is based on the use of alternating mid-frequency current and pulsation with a given amplitude. It is able to normalize blood circulation, improve tissue trophism, reduce pain. During the procedure, tingling is not felt.
- Barotherapy – in the treatment, a gas air medium is used, which is supplied under pressure. Contributes to increased ventilation of the lungs, normalization of blood circulation, a reparative-regenerative effect is achieved. The patient can alternate inhalation of a gas mixture and ordinary air, breathe compressed oxygen.
- Heat therapy. In physiotherapy, the use of sand, ozokerite, therapeutic mud, paraffin is common. The procedure allows you to normalize metabolic processes, reduce pain, relieve inflammation.
- Electropuncture is a separate type of physiotherapy, where the effect is carried out on biologically active points on the patient’s body. Due to the direct or pulsed electric current, it is possible to normalize the work of all body systems in the complex or to eliminate individual violations. The patient feels the removal of muscle tension, improvement of blood circulation, activation of the body’s defenses.
- Ultrasound therapy. This method of treatment in medicine allows you to achieve good results in combination with taking medications due to ultrasonic vibrations of different frequencies. During the procedure, individual areas on the body are worked out to relieve inflammation and pain, normalize lymph circulation and blood circulation.
- IR irradiation enhances the work of blood vessels at the site of heating. After the course, a detoxification, anti-inflammatory effect is observed, the pain syndrome is relieved.
- Cryotherapy is the cooling of areas of the body within temperatures that are safe for health. Physiotherapy is prescribed to eliminate pain, relieve spasm, activate metabolic processes.
- Hydrotherapy – exposure to the human body using fresh water. The patient can be prescribed therapeutic baths and showers in order to relax or, conversely, tone up and activate the processes.
In the field of medicine, physiotherapy acts as an auxiliary method for recovery from various diseases. Before prescribing a treatment course, the doctor must take into account the contraindications that are available in a particular patient.
INDICATIONS FOR PROCEDURES
A doctor can prescribe physiotherapy for almost any disease, if the patient has no contraindications. Various methods of treatment can be aimed at eliminating pain, relaxation, starting the processes of recovery or normalization of body systems, enhancing the effect of taking medications.
The main indications are:
- functional disorders of the central nervous system;
- disorders of the gastrointestinal tract;
- injuries, fractures;
- inflammatory processes (not in the acute stage);
- respiratory diseases – physiotherapy helps to improve the discharge of sputum, relieve spasm, reduce shortness of breath, restore the process of normal functioning of the lungs;
- postinfarction and post-stroke conditions;
- psychosomatic disorders;
- impaired functions of the motor apparatus;
- Swelling;
- recovery after surgery;
- male sexual and gynecological diseases;
- elimination of foci of inflammation;
- stress, nervous tension, constant feeling of fatigue;
- prevention of complications;
- congestion in the mammary glands (often occurs during breastfeeding);
- the formation of seals on the body that are not associated with oncological diseases.
The main advantages of physiotherapeutic treatment can be considered a small number of contraindications, natural effects on the human body and the ability to cope with a number of diseases without drug or surgical intervention. Recovery occurs several times faster, which is noted not only by doctors, but also by patients.
To achieve a visible effect, it is necessary to undergo a full course of procedures, which will be recommended by the attending physician. In different cases, you will need from 5-6 to 20 visits.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
The main contraindication to physiotherapy is acute inflammatory processes in the body and exacerbations of chronic pathologies. Treatment with such methods should begin in the recovery phase or after the elimination of sharp exacerbations of the disease.
There are a number of conditions in which physiotherapy methods cannot be used. Among them are some skin diseases, purulent or infectious pathologies, pregnancy, eczema, blood diseases, oncology, tuberculosis in active form, fever, general serious condition of the patient.
Taking into account contraindications, the specialist selects treatment methods for a particular patient. In the process of exposure to physical factors, in rare cases, a local or general reaction of the body may occur in the form of skin irritations, increased heart rate, sleep disturbances. In this case, the doctor will necessarily adjust the prescribed therapeutic regimen or reduce the intensity of the effect.
RULES FOR PHYSIOTHERAPEUTIC TREATMENT AND PATIENT PREPARATION
Physiotherapy is carried out half an hour to an hour after a meal. Visiting the procedure on an empty stomach is not recommended.
The rules of conduct are reported to the patient by a specialist before starting treatment. Have to:
- Remove jewelry and remove metal objects.
- Do not touch the device both before and during the procedure.
- Adults – to monitor the behavior of children in the office.
- If the state of health worsens, immediately inform the doctor about the changes.
- Disconnect the mobile phone for the duration of the session.
When conducting laser therapy, ultraviolet radiation should not remove protective glasses until the procedure is completed.