Physiotherapy, or physical therapy, often abbreviated as PT, is a health care (allied health) profession which enhances, restores and boosts quality of life to people with physical impairments or with disabilities.
Physiotherapists diagnose and treat individuals of all walks of life, from all ages, from newborns to the very old, from those who have medical problems and injuries that limit their abilities to be mobile and to be functional, to those who are sports-people, and who wants to bring their performance to a higher level.
Its principles are based on sound medical sciences, and is within the mainstream medicine intervention group. This explains why we often work closely with medical professionals such as surgeons and medical practitioners to provide a more comprehensive care plan.
We perform individual assessments on each client and develop a structured and systematic plan using physical treatment modalities and techniques to promote the mobility, reduce pain experience, restore functionality and prevent and limit impairment.
Also, we work with individuals to prevent the potential loss of mobility or function before it happens, or to limit the loss of mobility, by developing fitness and wellness plans and programs for people who are healthier and active, to develop, maintain and strengthen/restore movement and ability throughout their lives.
This will include providing physiotherapy services IN circumstances where mobility and functionality are/will be threatened and limited by issues such as injuries, ageing, disease or environmental limitations or factors.
We are concerned with maximizing quality of mobility, quality of life and potential in a continuum of injury and immobility prevention, wellness promotion and independence. Intervention comes in where and whenever there is a limitation or a state of decreased mobility or threatened mobility and function.
More often than not, we need to take into consideration not only the physical elements of a person, but their emotions, their psyche, and their social well being. In some area, where appropriate and comfortable, areas of spirituality are also brought into consideration. Physiotherapy intervention also will involve the interactions with other health care members such as nurses, doctors, social workers, psychologists, nutritionists, as well as the family of the client, and in some areas, their friends and partners or spouses.
The individual's previous medical and rehabilitation history, physical examination will be utilized to reach a diagnosis and to develop a rehabilitation plan. Lab and imaging results will be used as well to paint a fuller picture and to better create a comprehensive therapy plan for the patient.
Physiotherapy intervention may include prescription and execution of specific exercises, patient and family education, manual therapy, mobilization and manipulation, and others including thermal modalities such as ultrasound, interferential etc.