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Physical therapy is a type of medical rehabilitation, a type of physical therapy. During physical therapy, physical phenomena such as electric current, light, magnetism, ultrasounds and low temperature are used for therapeutic purposes and use them to affect the affected areas. The aim of physical therapy is to improve muscles after injuries, for example fractures, and to relieve pain, and thus improve the quality of life in chronic diseases.
What is physical therapy?
W physical therapy physical phenomena such as light, current, ultrasound, and magnetic field are used. It affects the human body, which reacts to these stimuli in a specific way, for example, accelerating the regeneration processes. Physical therapy stimulates the immune system and stimulates the body to fight various disease states, for example edema, inflammation of various grounds (mainly with the help of physical therapy however, inflammation caused by degenerative changes in the spine) and effusions after injuries are treated. Physical therapy stimulates the processes of tissue renewal and healing, therefore it is often used as an auxiliary treatment in various injuries, including those related to sports.
Types of physical therapy
During physical therapy the following physical phenomena are used:
- Laser radiation. Physical therapy with the use of laser radiation is recommended to patients primarily in order to relieve pain caused by injuries (fractures, sprains, contusions of connective tissue and injuries of joint capsules). Laser irradiation is also good for relieving rheumatoid pains, pain associated with pathological changes in the spine, joint overload, and for the treatment of neuralgia. The laser also has an anti-inflammatory effect and stimulates the process of the formation of new tissues, which is why it is used in cases of difficult-to-heal wounds and long-lasting bones. During physical therapy with the use of a laser, the patient receives special glasses that protect his eyesight, and the laser beam is directed to the painful or sick place. Laser irradiation takes about 10 minutes, during which you should sit or lie still.
- The magnetic field. Physical therapy using the magnetic field phenomenon has a therapeutic effect in the case of pain and inflammation of various origins. The magnetic field is used, for example, in the treatment of inflammation of the abdominal organs, in ailments related to rheumatoid changes and after injuries. Physical therapy with the use of a magnetic field stimulates the immune system, relieves pain and inflammation, and improves blood flow, stimulating the formation of new cells and tissues.
- Electricity. The phenomenon of electric current is also used in physical therapy. Physiotherapy treatments with the use of current (alternating or direct) are recommended for pain relief, in rheumatic ailments, in limb injuries and in the treatment of skin inflammations. Electrical therapy is also used to treat degenerative conditions of bones and joints. Electric current physical therapy may consist of galvanization, i.e. stimulating a given area of the body to work with the help of a current of variable intensity or ionophenase, i.e. introducing a drug into the sick or damaged area with the use of a constant current. Ionoferase is used to soften scars and heal inflammation. Current physical therapy is also used as an electrostimulation of muscles, for example in the case of muscle atrophy and paresis and to improve the blood supply to a given part of the body.
- Ultrasounds. This type of physical therapy is anti-inflammatory and analgesic. It is used in inflammation of muscles and joints and to alleviate discomfort caused by degenerative and rheumatic diseases.
- Cold therapy (cryotherapy). In this type of physical therapy, low temperature is used (below 0 degrees Celsius; in cryotherapy, temperatures as low as -176 degrees Celsius are used). Low temperature causes the blood vessels to contract and slows down blood flow. Physiotherapy with the use of low temperatures is most often used to relieve pain, in injuries and degenerative diseases, and as part of the prevention of osteoporosis. The treatment consists in cooling the affected area with liquid nitrogen or liquid ethyl chloride.