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What
are the different Physical Therapy Methods ?
The
different Physical Therapy
methods are
Manual Physical
Therapy: This is basically massage. The Physical
Therapist
would use their hands and manually massage the patient's affected
areas,
to
soothe, relax and bring about blood circulation, which would help in
alleviating the pain or ailment. Massage involves rubbing or pressing
the
affected area with both palms, of the hands. Massage is an important
part of
Physical Therapy, and is like a passive exercise, where a patient who
is unable
to exercise, could have massage administered to them, to help them
better
control pain, or injury, and in some cases also help in rehabilitating
them.
Exercise Physical
Therapy: In Physical Therapy, exercises
play a very
important role. They basically stimulate, the affected body part, and
help to
bring it back to normal. Continued exercise, helps to
rehabilitate the
patient. Exercises involve stretches, bends and lifts. They also
involve exercising
using a equipment like, a stationary cycle for exercising the
legs,
or a treadmill,
or parallel bars for improving the condition of hands, or a
stair climber
for exercising the muscles and nerves in the knee, calves and foot.
Weight
lifting and walking are also used in Physical Therapy. In fact walking
plays a
very important part, for those who are able to ambulate.
Heat and Cold
packs Physical Therapy: Heat packs are special packs
which give
heat, and cold packs are packs with Ice in it. In
this method of Physical Therapy, Heat and
Cold packs are administered, to the affected area of the body, to bring
about
relief. They also increase the blood circulation to the area, and
soothes and
relaxes it.
This sort of physical therapy is mainly used to treat pain.
Ultrasound Physical Therapy:
In this method, a special instrument is
used,
which gives out high frequency sound waves. The instrument is focused
on the
problem area, and the high frequency sound waves penetrate that area
and
soothes it and gives relief. It also induces relaxation.
Hydrotherapy
Physical Therapy: In this method, special kinds
of baths are
used with hot or cold water. A special kind of bath is a whirlpool
bath. The
water acts as a massage, and soothes the area or the body, and relaxes
it. Also
blood circulation to the affected part increases, when this therapy is
conducted.
Electrotherapy Physical Therapy:
In this method, electricity is
administered,
using a special instrument. The conduction of electricity through the
affected
part, brings about soothing and causes increased blood flow to it.
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