Physiotherapy and physical therapy are often confused or thought to be synonymous. The question, however, is that are they the same thing? And can one even make a differentiation between these two healthcare professions?
The answer, in all probability, you might be shocked to hear, is actually that physiotherapy and physical therapy are the same things! There is absolutely no difference between the two worlds, and each word can be utilized interchangeably. However, when you were first pushed into making a difference, maybe even just one little difference could be all it took for you to believe that maybe physiotherapy and physical therapy were two different healthcare professions. Suppose you have suffered from any number of injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, whiplash, or other ailments. In that case, likely, you have also suffered from some degree of a neurological disorder, which in most cases, was not detected until much later than it should have been.
For example, neurological pain is often hard to detect, as we do not always realize hurting. Often, it is a pain of doing something we know and love that is the hardest to let go of. As a result, for many people, seeing a physiotherapist or a manual therapist can help to let them know that the pain is coming from a neurological source and that help is on its way. As well as this, physiotherapists and manual therapy specialists are trained in pain relief, managing conditions such as pain, spondylosis, and shoulder muscles, and so forth, through a range of techniques such as hot massage packs and cold compresses.
Geriatric physiotherapy deals specifically with the needs of older people suffering from sports injuries, arthritis, and other musculoskeletal conditions that affect mobility. The goal of a geriatric physiotherapists is to improve the quality of life of their patients by helping them to cope with pain and restriction. Physiotherapy is an essential part of any rehabilitation program for someone suffering from an injury, but it is particularly important for those who have suffered a sporting injury. A skilled physio can help patients move more easily and comfortably during the rehabilitation process and following a rehabilitation period.
Neuro physiotherapists specialize in a very specific field of physical therapy, movement restriction. They deal specifically with patients who have had spinal cord injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, head injuries, or neuromuscular disease. Many neuro physiotherapists specialize in spinal cord injury, especially those with a sub-conventional or primary collision. Physiotherapists working in this area have a detailed knowledge of the spinal cord anatomy, the muscles of the body surrounding the spine, and the nervous system. They can evaluate movements, tests, and scans and make recommendations about how a patient should move to improve the function of their limbs. For example, if a patient has had a whiplash injury, a neuro physiotherapist may suggest moving the arm backward to help reposition the brain.
Other specializations within physiotherapy include cardiac physiology, cardiac rehabilitation, orthopedics, geriatrics, and pulmonary therapy. Cardiac physiology deals with the physiology of the heart, focusing specifically on the heart’s response to disease and injury. Geriatrics deals specifically with people in the elderly, focusing on their physiological as well as mental health. Orthopedics is a branch of medicine that deals specifically with treating and preventing disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Geriatrics is the largest single discipline within orthopedics, with a large portion of doctors specializing in it.