Physiotherapy is not just a form of treatment you need when you suffer an injury or are hurt. In fact, most physiotherapists will recommend you start your therapy even before you have an injury, so that you can prevent the damage and also keep yourself fitter overall.
Elderly Home Care Things To Discuss With Your Physiotherapist is especially true of older age, when your bones and joints are not in the best of shape. Once you decide to try the services of a physiotherapist, make sure to discuss the following points to get the best out of your session.
Healing Tips To Discuss With Your Physiotherapist
Here are a few points you should clarify with your physiotherapist before you start a session:
- Heating Pad And Ice Packs
- It is true that heating pads and ice packs can effectively help to manage pain and also considerably bring down swelling. However, if you are a senior citizen, a better approach will be to use these along with some manual form of therapy. A heating pad and ice pack will help to make your tight muscles loose and make them relaxed, thereby reducing swelling and pain. The problem is that this effect will not last for long, and you may again experience the pain and discomfort.
- In order to make sure that you are able to move with ease, your therapist will help you move on from using these ‘passive’ aids, such as the heat pad and ice pack, and help you start more active workouts.
- Bath Therapy
- A bath therapy is a part of physiotherapy where the patient is made to sit in a type of bath that helps to bring relief. This type of therapy is mostly suggested for elderly patients, who are suffering from diabetes or have problems with blood circulation. In such cases, the patients often get wounds that take time to heal, and hence a bath therapy is considered a good option.
- One negative outcome of a bath therapy is the risk of developing infections, as the wounds are exposed in the water, and when combined with the chemicals used, may actually interfere with the healing process. A better alternative could be using a spray mix that can help clean and disinfect the wound.
- Weak Strength Training Programs
- Strength training programs can often be very good for senior citizen, as it helps to improve the balance as well as helps the elderly to become more independent. However, many physiotherapists are often wary of using a strong strength training program, and may instead put you on low intensity training to try and avoid any injury. The downside to using such training programs is that they will not be intense enough to help you build any muscle strength, and will not really be beneficial. While it is important to be safe, you need some amount of exertion to get your joints and muscles fit and in shape.
- A better approach would be to start with a training program that is not too low or strong, but moderate, and then gradually build on it.
- Use Of Machines After Knee Replacement
- Many physiotherapists advocate the use of continuous passive machines, or CPMs, after a knee replacement surgery, as it is thought to facilitate healing and also improve mobility in the affected joints. Of late, certain studies have shown that the effects that were thought to be of use may not actually be as effective as they were originally deemed to be.
- While using a CPM machine, the patient has to be in bed and hence it also cuts down on mobility. Speak to your therapist about what alternatives you can go for, depending on the overall health of your knee as well as your overall healing process.
Make sure you are well aware of what you do in your sessions, and speak about everything in detail with your therapist to avoid any doubts.
You can book an appointment with our physiotherapist at Care24 to know more about various rehabilitation therapy treatments.
