How Physiotherapy Can Benefit People Living With Disabilities
A disability is a medical condition that limits a person’s motion. One can have it through genetics, aging, disease, or an injury. A disability can be either physical or mental; some last for a short period, while others last permanently. In the United States, one out of four adults has disabilities.
Having a disability can affect someone’s life terribly. It can lead to a loss of confidence, anxiety, and depression because others consider a person with such a disorder incapable of doing things that a healthy individual can do. Many more view them as a burden.
That said, a disability may limit someone’s function, but it doesn’t mean they’ve lost their worth as a human, nor there’s no hope left for them to bounce back. Physiotherapists share these ideas.
What Is Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy derives from Physiology, which is the study of a person’s body functions. It’s a healthcare profession that researches the body’s parts and how they work to form treatment for diseases, injuries, or deformities. Physiotherapists (healthcare professionals) apply these discoveries to increase patients’ mobility and restore their body function through several exercises and health programs.
The practice started in 1813 under the supervision of Per Henrik Ling, also known as the father of Physiotherapy. He founded the Royal Central Institute of Gymnastics, a school for Swedish sports and health, and nurtured their students’ potential with massage and exercise. Physiotherapy is commonly known as Physical Therapy today. To learn more about it, read here.
Benefits Of Physiotherapy For People With Disabilities
- Physiotherapy Provides Proper Diagnosis And Treatment
Physiotherapy is a medical branch that can determine the nature of one’s disability. They use different equipment to accurately identify patients’ medical state, aside from conducting a series of tests to apply the best program possible.
Also, Physiotherapists are trained medical professionals who use massage and manipulation of muscles to treat patients. They first explain to the patient how severe their condition is and what to do to ease their pain. Some popular methods that physiotherapists use to diagnose and treat disabilities are the following:
- Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS)
EMS or electrotherapy uses equipment to transfer customized waveforms to the body. It comprises a monitor and a couple of wires designed to be connected to the patient’s body. Commonly used for patients suffering from strokes and other spinal cord injuries, it helps the affected area have less swelling and retain muscle activeness.
- Computerized Tomography (CT Scan)
It’s a diagnostic test that utilizes computer processing to gather a patient’s x-ray images and other body information. CT scans can provide a precise amount of data, helping healthcare professionals like Physiotherapists determine the cause of a person’s disability and apply a suitable treatment.
Those are just some of the many ways physiotherapists diagnose and treat disabilities. So, you can expect to undergo tests and treatments unique to your condition.
- Physiotherapists Provide Immense Moral Support
A disability can be taken as a curse for patients diagnosed with such illness and their loved ones. Not only does it limit patients’ capability to do tasks efficiently, but may also require immense budgeting to prevent it from worsening or staying permanently.
The thought of being a burden because of their handicap can be unbearable. Without moral support, a person with a disability might feel hopeless and eventually decide to give up (live irresponsibly or even take their own life). Studies show that many people with a disability in the United States alone suffer from anxiety and depression.
As hopeless as it may appear, a person with a disability doesn’t need to give up on their life. Physiotherapists have several treatments and exercises suitable for many medical conditions, which may take some time but can help patients retain most of, if not entirely, their body functions.
Also, they understand the struggles of people suffering from such disabilities. Therefore, they’re empathic with patients, treating them gently and letting them do each exercise step-by-step, without pressure. Physiotherapists understand that many people with disabilities feel hopeless, and they can help patients bounce back with patience and moral support.
- Physiotherapy Allows Patients To Socialize With Other Patients With Disabilities
Physiotherapy sessions are conducted in clinics and other treatment centers. Aside from exercises and updated medical equipment, many of their programs include interaction with patients as a group, which benefits patients with a disability. That’s because, through group activities, a patient may not feel alone and misunderstood.
After all, they’re the ones suffering from such illness, and to have companions who share the same pain as they do can provide courage for them. Collaborative programs in Physiotherapy let patients share their experiences, inspiring one another to continue living for the better.
Conclusion
People with disabilities can lead healthy, active life through physiotherapy. Physiotherapy, also known as physical therapy, benefits people of all ages with different disabilities. It’s an effective treatment incorporating exercises, body poses, and medical advice to restore movement and body function while showing empathy and hope.
