What is Orthopedic Physiotherapy?

Orthopedic physiotherapy focuses on orthopedics and therapies for ailments, which include joints, muscles, bones, ligaments, and tendons. It diagnoses, manages, and cures musculoskeletal disorders and helps patients recover from orthopedic surgery.

Orthopedic physiotherapy is strongly advised for patients who have recently suffered from fractures, surgery, sprains, or strains in any body part. This physiotherapy aids in the complete and rapid recovery from these health issues.

What ailments do orthopedic physiotherapists consider?

Some of the ailments orthopedic physiotherapists consider are:

Fractures: A fracture, often known as a broken bone, is a medical illness where the wholeness of a bone is partially or completely broken. Trauma or injuries like falls, direct hits, or stress on the bone from repetitive motions can result in fractures. They can also be the outcome of underlying medical disorders like osteoporosis or bone cancer that weaken the bones. Once the bones are joined physiotherapy can help you in full movement and easy recovery after the plaster is removed.

Spondylitis: A form of arthritis that largely affects the spine is spondylitis, sometimes referred to as ankylosing spondylitis. The spine and other joints in the body may experience pain, stiffness, and swelling as a result of this chronic inflammatory illness. Proper exercise and therapy can improve mobility and regain flexibility in the spine.

 Arthritis: Arthritis is a medical term for the inflammation of one or more joints in the body. It can result in pain, stiffness, and swelling in the affected joint(s), as well as a reduction in mobility and range of motion. There are numerous types of arthritis, but the three most common are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis. Medication can reduce pain in arthritis but proper physiotherapy is essential for regaining mobility and flexibility in the joints.

 Back Pain: Any discomfort or pain in the back especially the lower back is referred to as back pain. It might be accompanied by stiffness or restricted mobility and can range in intensity from a continual, dull aching to sudden, intense pain. Poor posture, muscle strain or injury, spinal anomalies, and degenerative disorders like arthritis or ruptured discs are just a few of the causes of back pain. The best treatment for back pain is physiotherapy as the medication can only suppress it but exercise can diminish it with time.

Knee pain: Knee discomfort is a frequent complaint that can be brought on by a number of different things, including an accident, excessive use, or aging-related deterioration. The complex knee joint, which supports the weight of the body and allows for mobility, is made up of bones, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage. Mild to severe knee pain can be felt, and it is often accompanied by symptoms like stiffness, swelling, tenderness, or hurting near the knee joint. Timely diagnosis and exercise can help you in avoiding surgery or knee replacement.

Shoulder Pain: Shoulder pain is a common condition that can affect people of all ages and is caused by a number of factors, including injury, overuse, or age-related degeneration. The shoulder joint is a complicated joint that facilitates movement and provides stability to the upper body. The treatment of shoulder pain may include rest, physical therapy, and medication. But in severe conditions, surgery is also recommended. 

Slipped Disc: A slipped disc is a spinal intervertebral disc that has lost its regular consistency and/or form. A slipping disc may be referred to by a number of medical terminologies, including herniated, ruptured, torn, bulged, or projecting disc. Accurate diagnosis can help you get out of the ailment with the help of an expert in physiotherapy.

Muscle Sprain: A frequent ailment that happens when a muscle or tendon is stretched past its breaking point or torn is a muscle sprain, sometimes referred to as a pulled muscle or a muscular strain. This may occur as a result of a quick or powerful movement, overusing a muscle, or not warming up sufficiently before exercising. Rest, ice, or pain ointment can relieve the pain but in severe conditions, physical therapy is the only option to get free from such ailment.

Ligament Sprain: When the ligaments, which are strong, fibrous bands of tissue that connect bones to one another, are stretched or ripped, it results in a form of injury known as a ligament sprain. Although ligament sprains can occur in any joint, the ankle, knee, and wrist are the most frequently affected. An expert in physiotherapy must be looked for treatment as negligence can lead to long-term joint problems. 

Tendonitis: It occurs when there is inflammation or irritation in the tendons. Tendons are tough tissues that connect bone to the muscles. It mostly affects areas such as the wrist, elbow, shoulder, knee, or Achilles tendon. The symptoms include swelling, pain, stiffness, and weakness in the affected area. One should seek medical advice as the prolonged condition can cause chronic pain or tendon damage.

Basic exercise used by orthopedic physiotherapists

  1. Stretching and flexibility exercises: These are exercises that focus on increasing the motion and mobility of joints. Exercise can improve performance in athletics, and reduce stiffness in muscles and joints.
  2. Exercises to improve range of motion: There are several exercises that can improve range of motion. Some of them are shoulder circles, hip rotation, Cat-cow stretch, Quadricep stretch, hamstring string, and Calf stretch. These exercises help in improving muscle strength of the body part focused on.
  3. Balance Exercise: These exercises go beyond the strengthening of the muscles. They help in improving postures which result in decreased back pain and lessens the risk of arthritis.
  4. Functional mobility exercises: Functional Mobility Training forces your body to function as a single unit while simultaneously working several muscle groups to enhance overall strength. Because multiple muscle groups are being used simultaneously, coordination and neuromuscular control are also enhanced. Train your movements, not your muscles, with functional movement training.
  5. Endurance Exercise: It is a physical activity that helps in increasing heart rate and breathing rate over an extended period of time. The primary focus of endurance exercise is cardiovascular fitness. Running, cycling, swimming, and brisk walking are some examples of endurance exercises.
  6. Plyometric or jumping-type exercises: as the name is called jumping the exercise involves jumping movements. The exercise improves power, speed, and agility, and builds up strength in the muscles. Some examples are jumping jacks, jump squats, high knees, burpees, and so on.