ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES AND TREATMENTS > Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is the science and technique of treatment by physical means. The importance of therapeutic exercise, massotherapy and electrotherapy. In the Hilu Medical Centre we also include manual and electronic tests to determine the degree of damage to the muscle, muscular strength, tests to establish its functional capacity, the extent of the movements of the joints, vital capacity measurements, as well as diagnostic marks to control progress.

The term physiotherapy comprises the full range of techniques in which physical agents are used to improve the condition of those patients able to receive physical treatment.

The physiotherapist, starting with the medical diagnosis, carries out a preliminary evaluation of each patient, which will consist of a functional evaluation, and a scheme for registering it, together with a physiotherapeutic record. Based on this data some therapeutic objectives will be formulated, and, as, a consequence, a therapeutic plan will be drawn up, employing those physical means, which are used exclusively in physiotherapy. Without any doubt the main tools of the physiotherapist are his hands, the therapy therefore is manual.

Thus:

• Massotherapy, or the application of different types of massage, like therapeutic massage, manual therapeutic lymphatic drainage, transverse deep massage, cryomassage, sports massage, myofascial induction and liberation, neuromuscular manual techniques, myotensive, connective tissue massage, reflex massage, massage of the periosteum, etc.
• Kinesiotherapy or therapy using movement
• Vertebral manipulation and manipulation of the peripheral joints. Orthopaedic Manual Physiotherapy Orthopaedic or Manual Therapy
• Mobilization: of the joints, neuro-meningeal manipulation, of the fascias and viscera.
• Analytic Stretching in Physiotherapy: Therapeutic analytical manoeuvres in the treatment of musculoskeletal pathologies.
• Manual methods of re-education of the posture, synergies and pathological neuromotor patterns in Neurological Physiotherapy
• Manual methods for the removal of obstructions in the airways, re-balancing of the ventilatory parameters and breathing re-education during effort in Respiratory Physiotherapy.
• Hypopressive myasthenic gymnastics and other analytical or global methods, to re-educate pelvic urogynaecological dysfunctions in Obstetric Physiotherapy.
• Functional bandage.
• Diacutaneous fibrolysis

Physiotherapy also uses other physical agents and medical technology such as electrotherapy, which is the application of electrical currents, ultrasound therapy or the use of ultrasound for treatment, pressotherapy etc.

Physiotherapy has a place, whenever it is medically prescribed, in the treatment of pathological processes in all the specialities of Medicine and Rehabilitation, using any of the types of Physical Therapy described above. The doctor is always responsible for the assessment, setting of objectives and therapeutic measures appropriate:

• Obstetrics and gynaecology: Re-education pre and post delivery, urinary incontinence, etc.

• Paediatrics: Infantile cerebral palsy, obstetrical brachial paralysis, bronchiolitis, arthogryposis, for, etc.

• Vascular: physiotherapy in amputees using lymphatic and venous drainage, etc.

• Neurology: Sciatica, slipped disc, hemiplegias, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, nerve paralysis, head injuries, medullar lesions, etc.

• Geriatrics: loss of mobility and functionality of the elderly patient

• Pneumology: EPOC (excess post-exercise oxygen consumption), cystic fibrosis, lobectomy, etc.

• Traumatology and orthopaedics: sprains, fractures, luxations, muscular tears, sports trauma, spinal column deviations and postoperative recovery

• Rheumatology: Arthrosis, arthritis, fibromyalgia, calcifications, osteoporosis, spondyloarthritis, etc.

• Cardiology: Re-education of exertion in patients with cardiopathies.

• Coloproctology: Faecal incontinence.

• Oncology: Post- mastectomy lymphoedema.

• Haematology: Haemophilia

• Rehabilitation

• Physiotherapy of the patient with burns.

• Sport physiotherapy

• Others; Psychosomatic disturbances, stress. etc.

According to the pathology or the lesion, physiotherapy could be the first choice of treatment and in others it is of assistance in medical or pharmacological treatment.