ESSENTIAL FACTS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS PHYSIOTHERAPY GUIDELINE AND ESSENTIALS

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HOW TO BOOST QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM PARKINSON’S DISEASE  Exercises that focus on mobilizing the joints have been proven to help people regain movement. Others can help release muscle tension and encourage flexibility. Here, it is important to note one key takeaway that cannot be stressed enough: to maximize the impact of these exercising and ensure the best results possible, a program should be put in place and followed thoroughly. For instance, gently stretching every morning will help patients move more freely.  Self-discipline and education are equally important. People with Parkinson’s disease experiencing hunching, as a chain effect this causes imbalance and puts extra pressure on the spine leading to other problems such as back or neck pain, migraines and even disability. Balance and postural trainings can correct these symptoms.  Parkinson’s has been also associated with anxiety, depression and other mood disturbances. Thanks to the fact that physiotherapy works as an integrated therapeutic method, a physiotherapist assess the patient as a whole and will advise on various strategies to cope, better manage and even treat psychological reason.

IS PHYSIOTHERAPY THE ANSWER TO THE OPIOIDS CRISIS IN CANADA? Currently, a lot of efforts are being made in Canada to forge a path towards reducing the burden by raising awareness and increasing access to physiotherapy. The focus is promoting the role this therapy has in managing pain and the benefits it can pose for psychological well- being. One study has shown that on a scale of one to nine, physiotherapy has reduced pain by 2.0 points, significantly more than the 0.9 registered by opioids. This shows huge promise. In addition to this, the Physiotherapy Association of British Columbia stated that physiotherapy should be recommended more for chronic pain, reducing exposure to painkillers. Because it is a multidisciplinary science, this type of treatment can also educate, offer advice and coach people living with some sort of pain. Remember the staggering numbers and imagine the amount of resources required to make all of these people feel better and that numbers are escalating quickly. Physiotherapy is comprised by a wide variety of interventions meant to restore, maintain and improve body function and movement and empower people live the lives they want. What sets physiotherapists apart is their approach to meeting the needs of each patient individually. Because the therapy is very flexible and adaptable to specific circumstances, it allows people to find their own care pathway.

THE LESS EXPENSIVE ALTERNATIVE FOR YOUR HEEL PAIN Radial Shockwave Therapy reports amazing outcomes A specific type of physiotherapy also known as radial shockwave therapy has shown amazing results with success rates as high as 90% after only three to five treatments. How this type of therapy works is by breaking up the scar tissue to encourage healing, and by releasing muscle adhesions from the heel. It also promotes blood vessel growth, thus helping the tissue repair itself. A 50 minute session is just over $100, and combined with at-home physiotherapy based exercising can help people feel better and back on their feet. Research into the benefits of this therapy have also reported a decrease in recurrence, meaning that not only it holds the power to alleviate and treat the symptoms, but also prevents them for reappearing. It is equally important to note that the faster you start the treatment, the bigger are the chances of relieving the symptoms quicker and more effective. It may not be the case that your physician recommends physiotherapy as a first-line of action, so you will need to either ask about it or educate yourself as to what the best option for you is. Remember that as many as 90% of plantar fasciitis cases can be treated with conservative, in-home treatments.

WHAT DOES LIVING TO 100 YEARS OLD MEANS FOR PHYSIOTHERAPY? If people nowadays will get to live to 100, that means that the outcome of their last 30 years will be highly decided by the lifestyle choices they make in their first 70. Of course there is so much one could do in the face of genetics and epidemics. But nevertheless, healthy diets and physical activity can help prevent some conditions, help better manage existing and future ones, and even have a life-changing impact. There is evidence that physiotherapy can provide relief and improve quality of life in palliative care as well. Initially described as terminal care, palliative care has now evolved into comprising rehabilitation as well. Life-threatening conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease or multiple sclerosis have benefitted throughout the years from the involvement of physiotherapeutic techniques. Because many elderly people do not have the needed support, it makes it all the more difficult for them to access this sort of treatment that could transform their lives. There is an immediate call to action to increase access to physiotherapy, train more specialists and raise awareness about the benefits it holds. Canada’s healthcare needs are changing in irreversible ways, driving a high demand of both traditional services and specialized, customized ones, such as physiotherapy. The conditions and symptoms have been also increasing in severity and complexity creating a need for treatments just as complex as the diseases they treat. Patients are changing as well demanding more information regarding their treatment options and thus empowering them to choose the best solution that suits them.

WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS RATES ON THE RISE, CAN PHYSIOTHERAPY HELP WITH THE BURDEN?  The Government of Canada government agency commissioned with producing statistics lists pharmaceuticals, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and other forms of alternative therapies as treatment options to help manage the disorder. Figures show that 84% of the people who reported using a type of treatment used medication, while 49% accessed rehabilitation therapy – including physiotherapy.  A study published in the British Medical Journal has shown substantial proof that physiotherapy exercises advance mobility and strength, restore balance and reduce fatigue. Patients who followed a training program reported long-term benefits, as opposed to the ones who stopped altogether or had an irregular schedule.  Even though physical activity has the potential to help with multiple sclerosis symptoms and prevent or delay disability, a significant number of people are leading extremely sedentary lives. This might also have its own ramifications deeply rooted in emotional and mental aspects, and can further pose challenges. A physiotherapist can assist people suffering from multiple sclerosis and help with behavioral and lifestyle improvements.

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