Common Treatment Techniques we use

Manual therapy is a technique where a we physiotherapist uses their hands to manipulate, mobilise and massage the body tissues.

This can help:

• Relieve pain and stiffness
• Improve blood circulation
• Help fluid drain more efficiently from parts of the body
• Improve the movement of different parts of the body
• Promote relaxation

Also referred to as therapeutic massage, soft tissue mobilization can help relax a patient’s muscles and reduce swelling in certain areas, making this treatment excellent for relieving pain associated with athletic injuries. Soft tissue massage also helps circulate blood and lymph flow, and reduce tissue swelling around the inflamed joints.

We usually recommend movement and exercise to help improve your mobility and function. Exercises designed to improve movement and strength in a specific part of the body – these usually need to be repeated regularly for a set length of time. The type of physiotherapy exercises that you will perform will depend on the stage of your recovery. Types of exercises include:-

• Range of motion exercises :- Range of motion (ROM) exercises can be performed either with the     assistance of your personal physiotherapist or you do it on your own with the guidance of your PT. Sometimes, you may have tightness in your joint or muscle, which can limit the available range of motion for your joint. In this case, your physiotherapist may use a heating modality to help loosen tight tissues prior stretching to improve your joint range.

Types of Range of Motion Exercises:-

There are three types of ROM exercises: passive, active –assistive, and active range of motion exercises.

• Passive range of motion exercise (PROME):- In PROME, the physiotherapist will move your limb along the joint range. This is often performed on patients who are unable to move their limb.
• Active-assistive range of motion exercise (AAROME):- This range of motion exercise is done on clients who are able to move their limb but needs assistance from the physiotherapist to complete the joint range. Sometimes, pain may limit the patient’s ability to actively complete the motion. The physiotherapist may assist the patient to complete the movement or just beyond the point of pain. The pain should not persist or worsen when motion is stopped. In this type of ROM exercise, there is minimal assistance from the physiotherapist.
• Active range of motion exercise (AROME):- The Patient performs the movement without physical assistance from the therapist. The physiotherapist may still verbally instruct the client on the proper execution of the exercise.
• Strengthening exercises:- Strengthening exercises are usually done on weakened muscles. It may also be done as part of the client’s general conditioning exercise program. Having normal muscle strength help prevent future injury. When muscles are not moved for a while because of an injury or immobilization (cast or brace), the muscles tend to get weak. Often, progressive strengthening exercises are included in your rehabilitation program. Your physiotherapist may let you perform the exercises with resistance bands and progress to weights as your strength improves.
• General conditioning exercises :- General conditioning exercises involve a combination of exercises including range of motion, strengthening, and walking exercises to help maintain or improve your
• Cardiopulmonary fitness;
• Muscle and joint flexibility; and
• Muscle strength.
• Balance exercises:- Balance exercises may be a part of your rehabilitation program if you have problems with your balance. Strengthening your major muscles are important parts of a balance rehab program.Depending on your specific needs and level of fitness, your physiotherapist may start from where you are most stable. For example, if you can sit without support, your therapist may suggest that you do balance exercises using parallel bars. Once you are able to do the exercises easily, you may start doing them without parallel bars.
• The stretching exercises:- are done in order to improve flexibility. The goal is to pull away the origin and insertion of the muscle in question in order to stretch it. In order for these exercises to be effective, it is important to align the segments of the body involved by correcting the compensations. It is also important to exhale well to help the muscle relax and thus minimize its resistance. The stretching positions are maintained for a long time and for a small number of repetitions.
• Strengthening exercises:- can improve strength, endurance or muscle power. They can be addressed to two different types of muscles: mobilizing muscles or stabilizers. Reinforcement can be done without a load (hands free) or using dumbbells, elastic bands, pulley systems, your own body weight, etc.
• Proprioception exercises :- are indicated when there is a decreasing ability to know where the body is in space (position) or how the body moves in space (movement). For example, the practice of balance on one leg improves the sense of position of the lower limb. An exercise where you have to draw the letters of the alphabet with the end of the trained limb could be recommended to improve the direction of movement.
• Functional exercises:-  are prescribed to practice an everyday life movement which is difficult after your injury. If indicated, the physiotherapist may ask you to practice a specific movement that you perform at work, at home or in your sport.
• Cardio-vascular exercises:-  such as stationary biking, walking, running, elliptical and swimming, are indicated to regain your previous level of effort. Yoga is also an activity that leads to cardiovascular health, as well as flexibility, strength, mobility and proprioception.

NDT as a neuromuscular and functional reeducation technique now includes neuroplasticity as a basis how the brain can change and reorganize itself and its processes based on practice and experience

• facilitation of normal postural alignment and movement patterns
• demand should be placed on the involved side during developmental and functional activities
• sensory feedback (manual contact, visual integration, somatosensory reinforcement) is essential to recovering function
• treatment includes looking at the whole person and specific functional needs; recovery vs. compensation

In this form of treatment, electrical stimulation is provided by attaching electrodes to the skin. The electrodes cause the muscles to shorten, which in turn helps prevent atrophy—best used in patients with paralysis or severely reduced range of motion. Sound waves, in the form of Ultrasound create heat within the body to loosen up tissue. Following are the electrotherapy equipment’s.

• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy – It is a technique wherein a small battery-driven device is used to send low-grade current through the electrodes placed on the skin surface. A TENS device temporarily relieves the pain of the affected area.
• Diathermy – Diathermy is a therapeutic treatment most commonly prescribed for muscle and joint conditions. It uses a high-frequency electric current to stimulate heat generation within body tissues. The heat can help with various processes, including: increasing blood flow.
• Ultrasound – Therapeutic ultrasound uses the frequency range of 0.5 – 3 MHz. This technique helps in lowering down the inflammation by inducing a deep heat to a localized area to cure muscle spasms, promote healing at the cellular level, increase metabolism, and improve blood flow to the damaged tissue.
• IFT (Interferential Therapy) – Electrotherapy treatment that uses electric current to stimulate tissue which provide pain relief, reduction of swelling and many other health benefits.
• Muscle stimulator- Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS), also known as neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) or electromyostimulation, is the elicitation of muscle contraction using electric impulses. EMS is using electrical impulses in order strengthen

A laser is a device that produces such a light. Low level laser therapy (LLLT) is used to treat various musculoskeletal conditions. LLLT is a non-invasive light source treatment that generates a single wavelength of light. This light has a good effect on pain, inflammation and tissue repair.

During dry needling, a practitioner inserts several filiform needles into your skin. Filiform needles are fine, short, stainless steel needles that don’t inject fluid into the body. That’s why the term “dry” is used. Dry needling treats muscle tissue, and its goal is to reduce pain, inactivate trigger points and restore function.

Kinesiology taping is one specific mode of treatment that your physical therapist may use. It involves placing strips of special tape on your body in specific directions to help improve your mobility and support your joints, muscles, and tendons. Kinesio tape can be applied straight to the skin and is a great way to stabilize the joints and muscles while the patient undergoes treatment.

Ice has the effect of constricting the blood vessels which helps combat inflammation and swelling after injury. Cold packs also improve joint mobility, which can increase the effectiveness of manual therapy. Heat, on the other hand, can relieve pain and make soft tissue like the muscles, ligaments and tendons, more pliable. In some instances these therapies are used individually and in others, are alternated.

One of the main aspects of physiotherapy involves looking at the body as a whole, rather than focusing on the individual factors of an injury. Therefore, we give general advice about ways to improve your wellbeing – for example, by taking regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight for your height and build – is an important part of treatment.