Chennai: Physical therapy is believed to result in easy movement of muscles and joints to relieve pain or in case of difficulty in mobility, but medicos say that it has various other miraculous benefits such as improvement of lung functions, speedy tissue healing and is helpful in healing burns also.
Medicos discuss multiple benefits of physical therapy on account of International Physical Therapy Day. Studies say that physiotherapy not only impacts body’s function, but also improves the understanding of integration between systems.
“Physiotherapy restores overall fitness, preventing potential problems like dysfunction of the muscle, joint, abnormal movement, the wrong pattern of movement and posture which can lead to pain. In case of tear of tissue, physiotherapy helps to strengthen the muscles around them to lend support,” said Dr K. Ganesan, sports physiotherapist, Ortho-One Orthopaedic Speciality Centre.
With the development and advent of technologies that include aquatic therapies, electrotherapy and other manual therapies in the mainstream field of physiotherapy, pulmonary conditions can be resorted.
“Proper breathing positions that are practised as part of physical therapy improve lung and abdomen functions. Patients with short breath and decreased endurance, improve on pulmonary issues and lung functions. It is now developing as a mainstream field in women and newborn rehabilitation also,” said senior pulmonologist, Dr R. Ranjith.
Oncologists say that cancer rehabilitation includes physiotherapy as a significant factor to aid cancer survivors. “Managing high-stress level and optimising physical functions for cancer patients is the primary function of physical therapy. Physiotherapy focuses on specific and customised exercise that render effective results as per the body capacity and composition,” Dr Selvi Santhosham, physiotherapist, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital.
She added that cancer treatment leads to exhaustion and weakness of the immune system, fatigue, pain, nerve damage and incontinence. These health problems can be eased by physiotherapy during and after the treatment.
