Physical therapy and rehabilitation
Many patients who experience back, neck, leg and/or arm pain recover with conservative care. Most of these patients do not require surgery. Physical medicine treatments and the many modalities it offers can be of great benefit to certain patients.
Physiotherapists can provide additional treatment for a wide variety of medical conditions, depending on their expertise.
Although physiotherapists do not directly and independently treat medical conditions other than pure musculoskeletal conditions, they do work to optimize recovery or train a person on how to optimize their movement patterns.
Some conditions that may benefit from physical therapy include:
Cardiopulmonary conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, and heart failure after myocardial infarction
Conditions affecting the hand such as carpal tunnel syndrome ve trigger finger
Low back pain , musculoskeletal dysfunction including rotator cuff tears and temporomandibular joint disorders
Neurological conditions such as stroke , spinal cord injuries , Parkinson's disease , multiple sclerosis , vestibular dysfunction and traumatic brain injuries
Cerebral palsy and pediatric conditions including muscular dystrophy
Sports-related injuries such as tennis elbow
Women's health and pelvic floor dysfunction including urinary incontinence and lymphedema
Skin conditions or injuries such as burns, wound care, and diabetic ulcers
Treatments Applied by Physical Therapy
Traction: Patients experiencing acute or chronic pain in the lower back and neck usually feel relief with traction applied to the cervical or lumbar spine. The traction relieves pressure on the disc area and helps open the neural foramen where the nerve roots leave the spine. There are several techniques that can be used to achieve this traction. The tension applied to the neck and waist is precisely adjusted and increases as the sessions progress.
Heat and Cold: Moist heat helps relieve muscle spasm and inflammation caused by the intent to stretch. Cold compresses are applied to the painful area, usually within the first 48 hours after injury. After 48 hours, heat is applied.
Ultrasound: Ultrasound is used to deliver heat to deep tissues. While hot compresses are good at warming the skin and the tissues just below the skin, they cannot reach the deep muscles of the lower back and neck.
Massage: Massages can be very helpful in reducing pain and spasms in the affected muscles of the neck and lower back. Myofascial release is a localized form of massage aimed at the fascia surrounding the muscle. This helps loosen stiff and injured muscle tissue.
Electrical Stimulation: Electrical stimulation helps promote healing, reduce swelling and reduce pain. Surface patches are placed on the skin over the affected area of pain. The electrical current affects both nerve and muscle cells.
Braces: A brace for the neck and lower back reduces movement and provides extra support to the affected area, relieving some of the tension in the area.