UNDERSTANDING PHYSIOTHERAPY TECHNIQUES

Physiotherapy techniques in Sherwood Park, AB

Physiotherapists are health care leaders maximizing physical abilities without drugs or surgery. More and more people are choosing physiotherapy because of the unique diversity of treatment options and the wide range of conditions successfully treated. In today’s health care system, physiotherapy is a smart choice for improving your physical health and fitness.

When you visit your local physiotherapist, the following are some treatments you may receive:

• Joint Mobilization: an effective manual therapy technique used to restore joint mobility. The technique involves a range of levels, from very gentle joint oscillations (small rhythmical movements applied to a stiff, painful joint) to manipulations (a high velocity thrust at the end of range).

If you have noticed that it is becoming increasingly difficult for you to perform functions such as turning your neck when driving, reaching into a high cupboard, bending to put on your shoes, these techniques will help you to regain lost mobility.

• Traction: a technique in which the therapist exerts a spinal elongation force to increase inter vertebral space and relieve spinal nerve root compression.

If you have been experiencing pain, pins and needles in your arms or legs, or increasing weakness, your physiotherapist can assess if traction will help you.

• Muscle energy: a manual technique in which the patient is directed to use their muscles in a precise manner against the counter-force applied by the physiotherapist.

This technique works very well to increase range in people with arthritis or in those who have lost mobility following surgery or injury.

• Myotherapy: a powerful, hands-on technique that relieves pain of muscular origin, such as in fibromyalgia. Irritable, sensitive spots called trigger points, develop in muscles from injury and daily repetitive strains. These trigger points can cause pain, restrict mobility, impair blood flow and trap sensitive nerves. The technique involves a form of deep massage and trigger point compression, followed by stretches.  Often the pain or “toothache” sensation is distant from the trigger area.

This technique can work amazingly well for conditions such as shin splints, patello-femoral pain (where the lateral quadriceps muscle becomes very tight), tennis elbow, frozen shoulder and TMJ dysfunction. Condi- tions non-responsive to other treatments are often helped with myotherapy.

• Myofascial Release: based on treating the body’s fascial system that weaves through our entire body like a spider-web. Fascia surrounds all our muscles, bones, nerves, blood vessels and organs. Tension in the fascia can affect all our systems and cause the body to “freeze-up”. The technique involves gentle stretching and compression to free the body’s fascial restrictions.

This technique is especially effective when people complain of experiencing tight, burning sensations. Conditions such as carpal tunnel, plantar fascia and bursitis respond extremely well to this technique.

• Cranial sacral therapy: a gentle, non-evasive technique. It is a holistic treatment that involves light touch to balance the cranial sacral system in the body, which includes the bones, nerves, fluids and connective tissues of the cranium, spine and sacrum.

This technique is especially helpful in people suffering from headaches, ringing in the ear, dizziness, sinus problems and insomnia.

Your physiotherapist at Eastgate Physiotherapy, Sherwood Park will select the best technique suitable for your condition.