Orthopedic physical therapy deals with injuries to the skeletal system or to muscles, joints or ligaments. A qualified physiotherapist can help you recover your day-to-day activities after surgery, rupture, dislocation or muscle tear among many other ailments. This is because rehabilitation-oriented physiotherapy in traumatology and orthopedics deals with diseases that affect any part of the musculoskeletal system.
The goal of physical therapy treatment in trauma and orthopedic rehabilitation is to relieve pain, improve strength and flexibility, and increase joint range of motion. First of all, the physiotherapist will do a clinical analysis of the patient to get to the source of the problem and create a treatment plan and above all educate the patient on how to manage the injury to prevent further injury.
What conditions are treated in trauma and orthopedic rehabilitation?
Some of the most common problems encountered by physical therapists specializing in trauma and orthopedic rehabilitation include the following:
Conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system.
- Arthritis
- Bursitis
- Cancer
- Frozen shoulder
- Knee instability
- Joint pain
- Limited movement
- Low back pain
- Respiratory distress
- Lymphedema
- Muscular dystrophy
- Parkinson’s disease
- Plantar fasciitis
- Scoliosis
- Spinal stenosis
- Stroke
Sports physical therapists help athletes exercise properly to avoid sports-related injuries and also help them recover from injuries when they occur.
Physical therapists in this specialty work with both children and the elderly helping them improve their balance to prevent falls. They also help them recover from surgeries such as knee or hip replacement and maintain strength and mobility as they age.
In addition, people who have suffered from illnesses such as cancer or low back pain use this type of physical therapy, including women recovering from the effects of pregnancy and childbirth. One condition that people do not associate with physical therapy is pelvic floor dysfunction.
After surgery, rehabilitation-oriented physical therapy in traumatology and orthopedics can help reduce pain and restore strength and mobility. Patients use this type of physiotherapy after surgeries such as:
- Hip replacement
- Knee prosthesis
- Knee arthroscopy
- Rotator cuff repair
- Heart surgery
- Cancer surgery
Rehabilitation after an acute injury
Acute injuries occur after trauma to some part of the body, for example, if you sprain an ankle, tear your meniscus or get a hernia in your back. A physical therapist specializing in trauma and orthopedic rehabilitation can help you in the following ways:
- Control pain and swelling
- Restore as much range of motion as possible
- Regain strength
- Learn how to move in a way that will not cause further complications
Rehabilitation after a chronic injury
Typically, a chronic injury is caused by a pattern of movement that is repeated over time causing injury to your bones, tendons or joints. Some of the most common examples of these injuries are shin splints, carpal tunnel syndrome or tennis elbow.
An orthopedic osteopath can help you manage symptoms such as pain or swelling and can teach you how to move to avoid future complications or injuries.
What types of treatments are used?
To treat rehabilitation in traumatology and orthopedics, physiotherapists use different treatments such as the ones you can find below:
- Exercises: The physiotherapist includes in the treatment a series of exercises that will help you increase your strength, mobility and balance. At the beginning the physiotherapist will guide you to do them correctly so that you can perform them regularly at home.
- Electrostimulation: This technique involves placing an electrostimulation device on the area of the body to be treated reducing pain.
- Traction: This can be done through manual therapy by removing pressure from damaged joints, especially in people with neck pain, low back pain or disc disease.
- Soft tissue manipulation: This is another form of manual therapy in which manual techniques are used to reduce pain and muscle tension.
How can you get the best results from rehabilitation-oriented physical therapy in trauma and orthopedics?
To get the most out of each physical therapy session, it is important that you work with a physical therapist with whom you feel comfortable and confident. Confidence in your treatment is one of the most important elements. Ask all the questions you consider convenient. In Physiotherapy in Ibiza you can contact us to ask any questions you want. From our physiotherapy center we establish clear and achievable goals.
You should always be honest about your pain tolerance and perform all exercises at home, if you are not sure you are doing any of them well, always consult your physiotherapist and go to each of your appointments even if you already feel improvement.
