Physiotherapy treatment methods

Lack of exercise, poor posture, accidents, diseases: There are many triggers for pain in the body's musculoskeletal system. Age also naturally brings with it decreasing mobility and dwindling muscle strength. This is where physiotherapy comes in with various therapy concepts. Measures tailored to the individual patient are designed to remedy, improve or prevent functional limitations.

The word physiotherapy comes from the Greek and is composed of "physis" (nature, body) and "therapeia" (care, healing). Movement therapy and physiotherapy are the main tasks of physiotherapy. In Germany, it is often prescribed for diseases of the spine and joints. But it can also be used after bone fractures, strokes, torn ligaments or tendons, as well as for multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, cardiovascular problems and many other diseases.

Physiotherapy is prescribed by the doctor on prescription, for example as "general physiotherapy (KG)", "manual therapy (MT)", "neurophysiological physiotherapy (KGN)" or "physiotherapy on the apparatus (KGG)". The various therapies are designed to improve or restore the body's performance. This can include maintaining strength, improving coordination and mobility, relieving pain or promoting circulation. The treatment is always based on the patient's individual complaints.

This treatment method is used for functional disorders of the musculoskeletal system. These include, for example, herniated discs, back and muscle pain, joint arthrosis or sciatic nerve pain. In manual therapy, the physiotherapist works with special hand movements and techniques. He loosens and stretches tense muscles, releases blockages in the spine, stretches limbs and mobilizes joints. In this way, the interaction between joints, muscles and nerve structures is restored. Often the patient is also given an exercise program to take home, which supports the work of the physiotherapist.

It is used for patients with edema of the arms, legs or trunk. In this case, the lymph fluid cannot drain optimally and accumulates in the tissue. In later stages, this congestion can be extremely painful. Manual lymphatic drainage" is often prescribed after tumor treatment or after lymph node removal. However, edema can also occur due to arterial circulatory disorders or after thrombosis, as well as be caused by rheumatism or genetics.

Using various grip techniques along the lymphatic pathways, the physiotherapist activates the body's lymphatic drainage. In particular, these are the "standing circle", the "twist grip", the "pump grip" and the "scoop grip". This helps to decongest the tissues, which reduces swelling. One treatment lasts between 30 and 60 minutes, depending on the affected area of the body.

Physiotherapy on the machine is used, among other things, after bone fractures and joint injuries, as well as for herniated discs, muscle insufficiency and postural deformities. The main goal is to learn healthy movement patterns and improve muscle strength, endurance and coordination. An exercise plan is drawn up for each patient based on his or her personal clinical picture. Training is carried out under the guidance of specially trained physiotherapists on medical equipment, including bicycle ergometers, weight training machines and cable pulleys.

Diseases such as Parkinson's or multiple sclerosis, but also craniocerebral injuries, strokes or spinal cord injuries can lead to difficulties with coordination, muscle control and muscle tension. Various treatment techniques can be considered to treat neurological limitations, including Vojta therapy, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) or the Bobath concept.

Vojita therapy is used for disorders of the central nervous system that involve changes in muscle tension. The physiotherapist triggers certain body reflexes through targeted pressure. This activates muscle function. The therapy is designed to restore the person's ability to perform everyday tasks such as reaching, turning over, standing up and walking.

Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) is a physiotherapy analysis and treatment concept that analyzes the patient's movement pattern and develops optimization strategies. The therapy is intended to promote performance and the interaction between nerves and muscles.

The Bobath concept is primarily aimed at patients with limitations in motor skills, perception and balance. The physiotherapist trains certain movements until new nerve fibers and synapses have formed. This requires active cooperation from the patient. Initially, the therapist assists the body movements. However, this assistance is progressively reduced until the patient gradually controls them on his or her own. After that, what has been learned must be transferred to everyday life.

Electrotherapy uses the power of electrical impulses to activate healing processes in the body. The therapy is considered for knee pain, circulatory disorders, arthrosis, muscle strains or paralysis, among others. A distinction is made between different procedures:

• Direct current therapy (galvanization): Widens blood vessels, increases blood flow to the skin and relaxes muscles.
• Low frequency therapy (up to 1000 Hertz): Has an analgesic, anti-inflammatory and circulatory effect. Stimulates lymphatic flow.
• Medium frequency therapy (1 to 100 kilohertz): Strengthens the musculature.
• High-frequency therapy (above 100 kilohertz): Loosens tight muscles, accelerates muscle metabolism and promotes healing of injuries.

How it works: Electrical current is applied to the painful part of the body via bonded electrodes. Those affected notice this through a more or less pronounced tingling sensation on the skin. Stimulation current therapy can also take the form of baths. In this case, the patient sits completely or partially in a bathtub with warm water. Alternatively, he only holds his arms or legs in it. The water is flooded with direct current and thus serves as a conducting medium.

Heat therapy is used, among other things, for neck, back, ligament and tendon pain. The heat is applied via hot mud and mud packs, hay flower baths, ultrasound, infrared light or hot air radiators. The so-called "hot roller" is also popular with many patients. The heat improves the blood supply to the tissue and relaxes the muscle fibers.

Cold therapy is used locally for inflammatory diseases of the musculoskeletal system, bruises, strains, bone fractures and rheumatism. Ice packs, ice wraps, ice cuffs, cold sprays or ice water are used to extract heat from the body. This constricts the blood vessels and reduces blood flow. This relieves swelling. In addition, inflammatory processes run more slowly, which reduces pain sensitivity. Whole-body therapy (cold chamber or ice bath) can be useful for ligament and muscle injuries, neurodermatitis, psoriasis or after operations.

Physiotherapy can help elderly people with acute and chronic diseases such as osteoporosis, Parkinson's or osteoarthritis to maintain their mobility and independence. Stretching exercises, massages and strength training improve seniors' overall mobility. Coordination exercises train the sense of balance and ensure greater mobility in everyday life (fall prevention). Physical therapy can also be beneficial for incontinence. Special exercises strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. This increases the closing pressure of the urethra in stressful situations such as coughing, lifting or jogging. Training the abdominal and back muscles also relieves the pelvic floor.

Physiotherapy treats a wide variety of functional disorders of the body. Individual therapy concepts and treatment methods can help the patient to cope with everyday life again more easily, independently and pain-free. In addition to the patient's age and condition, the previous course of the disease and everyday life circumstances are also taken into account.