Physical therapy includes treatment methods in which external stimuli – such as heat or cold, massage or exercise – are used to treat prevention or rehabilitation.
Physical therapies help with many types of complaints: the spectrum ranges from back pain to first aid after injuries, rehabilitation after accidents or treatment skin diseases such as neurodermatitis or psoriasis. Which method is best suited for which complaints is decided by the attending specialist.
- Physical therapy combines various methods that work with external stimuli.
- These include heat treatments, massages, electrotherapy and light therapy.
- There are many areas of application including sports injuries, skin diseases and circulatory disorders.
- The treatment is carried out by specialists in physical medicine and rehabilitation.
Physical therapy has many applications. The forms of therapy serve the healing (curation), relief (palliation), prevention (prevention) or restoration (rehabilitation) of impaired bodily functions.
Physical therapies help…
- in first aid: for example, after ankles during sports or bleeding
- for pain of all kinds: back pain, “lumbago”, headache, toothache, menstrual pain, pain-related incorrect and gentle postures
- for complaints of the muscles: for example, tension in the back and neck area or muscle weakness
- in the case of mobility restrictions: for example, functional limitations, postural damage, overload damage, signs of wear (arthrosis) on joints or inflammatory rheumatic diseases (arthritis)
- in case of circulatory disorders: for example of the legs
- for skin diseases: such as psoriasis, neurodermatitis or poorly healing wounds
- for respiratory complaints: for example with COPD
- in osteoporosis: In osteoporosis, muscles and bones are strengthened
- in rehabilitation: For example after accidents or operations
Many of us know this: we have back pain and nothing is more pleasant than a warm thermophore on the painful area. Or we overturn ankles and a bag of frozen peas relieves the swelling and stabbing pain. But not only cold or heat are a component of physical therapy.Hydrotherapy / Balneotherapy
Hydrotherapy generally uses the therapeutic effect of water. Balneotherapy or spa medicine in particular uses healing or salt water and the ingredients contained therein (e.g. carbonic acid, sulfur or magnesium). The application takes place in the form of full or partial baths, showers, pours or steames. Balneotherapy also includes bathing in moor, mud or paraffin. A spa can, among other things, improve skin circulation and complexion, calm, relax and lower blood pressure. Balneotherapy is mainly used for skin diseases (psoriasis, neurodermatitis) and rheumatic diseases.Thermotherapy
Thermotherapy uses the effect of cold and heat. The stimulus of temperature leads to a narrowing or dilation of the blood vessels and can thus have an analgesic, anti-inflammatory or circulation-promoting effect.
In cryotherapy, the temperature in our tissues is lowered to a maximum of 15 ° C, which causes our muscles to contract: the metabolism in the muscle is reduced and fewer inflammatory and pain-inducing substances are formed. Cold applications help especially with acute and severe pain, acute inflammation and swelling, after injuries and cramps. Among other things, treatments with ice, cold packs, cold water baths, cold chambers or cold sprays can be used.
Heat therapy is one of the oldest medical methods, the effect of which was based only on experience for a long time. Treatment with heat stimulates blood circulation and metabolism in our tissues. It helps with subacute and chronic inflammatory pain, but also with functional circulatory disorders: inflammation, muscle pain and arthrosis can be alleviated by heat therapy and mobility can be improved. Packs or compresses with capsaicin, Munari powder, warm moor or warm mud, but also hot water bottles can be used.
Read more » Heat beltMechanotherapy / Exercise therapy
With the help of movement, which can be active or passive, or the use of motor rails and gait robots (locomotives), limitations of the musculoskeletal system can be treated. The aim of exercise therapy is to take away the fear of movement, to improve the course of movements and to repeat new movement patterns. In order for exercise therapy to be successful, it is necessary to practice regularly. Important components of mechanotherapy are physiotherapy, occupational therapy, sports therapy or, as a special form, shock wave therapy.
Massage therapy serves to loosen and relax the muscles, it stimulates the metabolism and improves blood circulation. In addition to the classic massage, there are other types, such as reflexology or lymphatic drainage.Ultrasound therapy
In the therapeutic use of ultrasound, sound waves are generated in the frequency range between 800 kHz and 3000 kHz. This leads to heating and a kind of deep movement (cavitation) in the tissue. Ultrasound therapy is therefore a combination of heat and mechanotherapy. Ultrasound therapy can be used, among other things, for rheumatic diseases. Electrotherapy
Electrotherapy uses different frequencies of electric current, for example, to relieve or eliminate pain, to stimulate muscles or nerves or to stimulate blood circulation. Among other things, a distinction is made between direct current treatment, low-frequency therapy, medium-frequency therapy and high-frequency therapy (short waves, decimeter waves, microwaves). Light therapy
Phototherapy uses the effect of blue light with a wavelength of 460 nm and is mostly used in the therapy of jaundice in newborns.
In heliotherapy, the effect of UV light – especially UVB radiation – is in the foreground. It can be used for skin diseases such as neurodermatitis or psoriasis, depression and vitamin D deficiency. The duration of treatment depends on the individual skin type.
In laser therapy, different types of laser beams (680-1064 nm) are used, for example, to treat pain, reduce scars or promote blood circulation.
Depending on which complaints are present, several physical methods can be used. Which therapy, how long and how intensive it should be, is decided by the attending specialist after a thorough examination. The current state of health (age, gender, pre-existing conditions, status of the disease, individual resilience, classification according to ICF) is also taken into account and a goal is determined. Subsequently, the doctor can determine your needs together with you and create a therapy plan tailored to you, the progress of which is continuously monitored and adjusted if necessary.
Specialists in physical medicine and general rehabilitation practice in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, specialist surgeries and physical therapy centers. Trained specialists such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, masseurs or sports therapists support the doctors in their work.
For the success of physical therapy, some factors must be taken into account: everyone has an individual history, pain and resilience limit and motivation that must be addressed. If the symptoms have not improved after about 6 to 10 sessions and the therapy goal cannot be achieved, a new examination should be made to clarify whether better therapy goals can be achieved with another method.