Introduction to Introduction to physiotherapyphysiotherapy

PHYSIOTHERAPYPHYSIOTHERAPY

PHYSICAL THERAPYPHYSICAL THERAPYPhysio : physical agentsPhysio : physical agents

Therapy : treating peopleTherapy : treating people

Physical TherapyPhysical Therapy therapy for the preservation, therapy for the preservation,

enhancement, or restoration of enhancement, or restoration of movement and physical function movement and physical function impaired or threatened by disability, impaired or threatened by disability, injury, or disease that utilizes injury, or disease that utilizes therapeutic exercise, physical modalities therapeutic exercise, physical modalities (as massage and electrotherapy), (as massage and electrotherapy), assistive devices, and patient education assistive devices, and patient education and training—called also and training—called also physiotherapyphysiotherapy

Merriam-Webster’s definitionMerriam-Webster’s definition

A primary health care professionA primary health care profession Aimed at enhancing mobility, physical Aimed at enhancing mobility, physical

independence & quality of lifeindependence & quality of life Focused onFocused on

Treating a variety of conditionsTreating a variety of conditions

Promoting health & well-beingPromoting health & well-being Prescribed to individuals who vary inPrescribed to individuals who vary in

Age Athletic abilityAge Athletic ability

Physiotherapy is…..Physiotherapy is…..

What does a What does a physiotherapist do?physiotherapist do?

DiagnoseDiagnose

Make decisions on the presenting Make decisions on the presenting problemproblem

TreatTreat

Using education, exercise,Using education, exercise,

electrotherapy, manual therapyelectrotherapy, manual therapy RehabilitateRehabilitate

To achieve the best functional To achieve the best functional

levellevel

Who are Who are physiotherapists?physiotherapists?

Go-to health professionals Go-to health professionals Accessible, first-line health professionals Accessible, first-line health professionals Skilled in health promotion, injury Skilled in health promotion, injury

prevention and patient managementprevention and patient management

University-trained in the health University-trained in the health sciencessciences Intensive study of anatomy and physiologyIntensive study of anatomy and physiology

Who are Who are physiotherapists?physiotherapists?

Skilled in clinical reasoning Skilled in clinical reasoning Life long learnersLife long learners Committed to evidence-based decision Committed to evidence-based decision

making making

Licensed and regulated health Licensed and regulated health professionals with a unique professional professionals with a unique professional title title Only registered physiotherapists can Only registered physiotherapists can

provide physiotherapy servicesprovide physiotherapy services

What exactly do What exactly do physiotherapists do?physiotherapists do?

Assess, manage and treat a broad range Assess, manage and treat a broad range of medical conditions from sprained of medical conditions from sprained ankles to strokesankles to strokes

Relieve physical pain and help heal Relieve physical pain and help heal injuriesinjuries

Increase mobility, build strength, Increase mobility, build strength, improve balance, and improve balance, and enhance cardiovascular enhance cardiovascular performance performance

Help you to help yourself Help you to help yourself Engage clients by prescribing Engage clients by prescribing

therapeutic exercisestherapeutic exercisesTeach clients to better manage Teach clients to better manage

their own healththeir own health

Different work settingsDifferent work settings

HospitalsHospitals Rehabilitation centersRehabilitation centers Private clinicsPrivate clinics Home visits Home visits Sport fieldsSport fields Community based centersCommunity based centers

Different clientsDifferent clients

PaediatricsPaediatrics GeriatricsGeriatrics AthletesAthletes Regular adult populationRegular adult population PatientsPatients

Branches of physical Branches of physical therapytherapy

NeurologyNeurology OrthopaedicsOrthopaedics Musculoskeletal conditionsMusculoskeletal conditions Cardio respiratoryCardio respiratory Community base rehabilitationCommunity base rehabilitation Women’s healthWomen’s health

What conditions do What conditions do physiotherapists treat?physiotherapists treat?

NeurologicalNeurological Developmental delayDevelopmental delay Parkinson’s diseaseParkinson’s disease Spinal cord injurySpinal cord injury StrokeStroke

Benefits Benefits Improved balance, coordination, Improved balance, coordination,

strength, flexibility, and functionstrength, flexibility, and function Ability to manage daily tasks Ability to manage daily tasks Reduced pain Reduced pain Improved mood Improved mood

What specific conditions What specific conditions do physiotherapists do physiotherapists

treat?treat? OrthopaedicOrthopaedic Back and neck painBack and neck pain Arthritis and osteoarthritisArthritis and osteoarthritis Fractures or sprainsFractures or sprains Joint replacementsJoint replacements Sports injuriesSports injuries

BenefitsBenefits Decreased painDecreased pain Improved joint mobility and strengthImproved joint mobility and strength Restored physical function and injury Restored physical function and injury

prevention prevention Possibly prevent or delayPossibly prevent or delay

Cardio-respiratoryCardio-respiratory Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseChronic obstructive pulmonary disease Cystic fibrosisCystic fibrosis Heart disease Heart disease Respiratory infectionsRespiratory infections Post-surgical carePost-surgical care

BenefitsBenefits Improved breathing and secretion Improved breathing and secretion

clearance clearance Reduced breathlessness and increased Reduced breathlessness and increased

enduranceendurance Increased strength of arms and legs Increased strength of arms and legs

Women’s healthWomen’s health Breast cancer rehabilitationBreast cancer rehabilitation Chronic pelvic painChronic pelvic pain IncontinenceIncontinence

Benefits Benefits Reduced post-surgical pain and swellingReduced post-surgical pain and swelling Reduced fatigue caused by radiation Reduced fatigue caused by radiation

and chemotherapyand chemotherapy Improved pelvic pain and urinary Improved pelvic pain and urinary

incontinenceincontinence

TreatmentsTreatments

ElectrotherapyElectrotherapy ExercisesExercises Hydrotherapy / AquatherapyHydrotherapy / Aquatherapy Posture & ergonomic Posture & ergonomic

correctionscorrections Chest physiotherapy techniquesChest physiotherapy techniques

ElectrotherapyElectrotherapy

IRIR SWDSWD MWDMWD Electrical Electrical

StimulationStimulation Wax TherapyWax Therapy

ExercisesExercises

Passive exercisesPassive exercises Stretching exercisesStretching exercises Strengthening exercisesStrengthening exercises Mobilizing exercisesMobilizing exercises Breathing exercisesBreathing exercises

Hydrotherapy / Hydrotherapy / AquatherapyAquatherapy

Posture & ergonomic Posture & ergonomic correctionscorrections

Chest physiotherapy Chest physiotherapy techniquestechniques

Your future Your future

Bachelor of PhysiotherapyBachelor of Physiotherapy Masters of PhysiotherapyMasters of Physiotherapy Doctor of PhysiotherapyDoctor of Physiotherapy

Any questionsAny questions

Thank youThank you