Physiotherapy assesses, treats, diagnoses, and aims at preventing disability and diseases through physical means. Unfortunately, even with its popularity, some people still don’t understand much about physiotherapy services and the role it plays in preventing injuries and reducing pain. Well, these surprising facts about physical therapy will surprise you.
1. It dates back thousands of years
In fact, physical therapy was being used for various purposes back in 460 BC after it was invented. Interestingly, the inventor of physical therapy used water therapy to treat conditions. Surprisingly, water therapy is still used today as a form of physical therapy to treat specific conditions.
2. Physical therapy offers psychological services
One of the most overlooked facts about physical therapy is its role in the mental health of individuals. A physiologist is trained to provide not only the physical bit of the treatment but also the mental treatment. Physiologists offer relaxation training, social learning techniques, cognitive behavioral therapy, and targeted therapy.
3. It treats several conditions
Many people have this perceptive of physical therapy clinic as a place they only visit after being involved in an accident or after a sports injury. However, they don’t understand that this therapy treats and manages an array of conditions apart from rehabilitation. Physical therapy is essential in managing asthma, chronic back pain, assist in birth child preparation, and back pain. Additionally, this therapy also manages obesity, treats vertigo, neurological conditions such as stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cardiovascular diseases.
4. Physical therapy prepares people for surgeries
Physical therapy is essential in preparing people for surgeries by ensuring that their bodies are fit before the procedure. Additionally, it helps in full recovery after surgeries. Therefore, you can consider physiotherapy services before and after your surgery for proper rehabilitation.
5. Physical therapy was established after World War 1
The Canadians were also beneficiaries of physical therapy after the World War 1. The therapy was at that time often used as the first course of treatment for soldiers and other injured people during the war in Canada. It is the same therapy being used in other countries nowadays, just that the techniques have evolved with the changing times.
6. Physical therapy entails homework
Most people will admit that they don’t spend time doing homework anymore after graduating from college or high school. Well, a physiotherapist will assign his or her patient homework often. Physiotherapists consider strength-based exercises to be homework, and the patient is required to complete the assignment as required because it has a direct implication on the final results. That means that you need to adhere to your homework of you are undergoing physical therapy after surgery or an injury and you want to get back to your normal daily activities in good health.
