When you’re hurt, the natural reaction is to reduce your activities and rest. But after a few days, you need to start moving again. Otherwise, your muscles become weaker and recovery will take longer. As such, most people focus on resting when they’re injured or recovering from an illness.
As much as it’s important to rest during these periods, you also need to get back on your feet and start moving again as soon as possible in order for your body to heal faster. This article explains why physiotherapy is needed when you’re injured or recovering from an illness. It also details some of the common injuries or illnesses that require a visit to the physiotherapist—so if you’ve been reading this and thinking “this sounds like me right now”—keep reading!
When Your Body is Hurting, Why is Physiotherapy Needed?
When you’re hurt, your body naturally goes into “emergency mode.” This is a survival instinct that is triggered by the presence of injury or illness. It’s meant to protect you and keep you safe until you can properly heal and get back to your normal activities.
The problem is that the “emergency mode” reflex also has some side effects that slow down the healing process. One example is that your muscles will become weaker and less flexible when they hurt. This is actually a survival mechanism—because if you’re hurt, you can’t do much with your muscles, so your body decides to shut them down for safety reasons. This happens because the “emergency mode” reflex triggers a release of pain-killing chemicals that reduce the sensation of pain. Unfortunately, this also results in the reduction of blood flow to the muscles—which is crucial for their health and strength. So your body protects you from the pain by restricting the blood flow to the muscles—which makes them weaker and less flexible.
In addition to resolving any current injury or illness, physiotherapy can also help prevent future injuries, protecting you from risk of injury and chronic pain.
Recovery From Illness Is Often Slow & Painful.
If you’re recovering from an illness, your body is naturally healing itself, but it happens slowly. In fact, it’s common for people to feel worse before getting better when they’re recovering from an illness.
One example is a cold. When you get a cold, your immune system is triggered and releases chemicals that fight the cold virus. Unfortunately, your body is not able to kill all of the viruses that cause the cold, so you get a nasty cold that lasts for a few weeks. Thankfully, the cold does get better, and you’re able to move on with your life. However, it’s important to let your body do its thing and take the time to heal. Rushing your recovery will only prolong your illness, and you might end up hurting yourself even more.
You Don’t Always Need To See A Physiotherapist, But It Can Be Helpful.
Physiotherapy is a type of treatment that can help your body heal and get back on its feet after an injury or illness. Most people think that they need to visit a physiotherapist because they’re dealing with something serious. However, this isn’t always the case. The truth is that any injury, no matter how big or small, can benefit from the knowledge and help of a physiotherapist or physical therapist. The same goes for illnesses that are taking longer than usual to heal. So if you’re dealing with something or feeling like your body isn’t getting better, then it might be a good idea to see a physiotherapist.
Common Injuries That Require Physiotherapy
There are many injuries and illnesses that require the help of a physiotherapist. Some of the most common include:
Muscle/Joint Injuries
When you injure your muscles or joints, it’s your body’s way of telling you something is wrong. It’s a natural survival instinct that’s meant to protect you and prevent further damage. Unfortunately, the body often goes a bit overboard when it comes to protecting you, and it restricts your muscles and joints even more than they’re already injured. This only makes recovery longer, more painful, and more difficult. A physiotherapist can help you ease back into your regular activities and recover faster from your injury.
Back Pain & Sciatica
Back pain is one of the most common pain conditions in the world, and it most often happens to people who are between the ages of 25 and 55. It’s usually caused by bad posture or lifting heavy objects incorrectly, but it can also be brought on by an illness. Regardless of how it started, back pain is incredibly painful and annoying, and it often takes a long time to heal. A physiotherapist can help you avoid re-injuring yourself and ease the pain so you can get back to your daily activities quicker.
Shoulder Issues and Rotator Cuff Problems
The shoulder is one of the most complicated joints in the human body, and it’s quite easy to injure it if you’re not careful. From sports injury to accidents, there are many different ways you can injure your shoulder. Luckily, most shoulder injuries are minor and can be treated with the help of a physiotherapist.
Knee Issues & ACL Tears
A knee injury is scary because it’s not just one injury—it’s a whole bunch of different injuries that affect multiple joints. When you tear your ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) or hurt your knee, it’s not always easy to know what to do next. A physiotherapist can help guide through the rehab process and get you back on your feet and back to your regular activities faster.
Ankle Sprains and Foot Problems
The foot is a complicated part of the body that is easy to injure. From sprained ankles to bunions, there are many different foot and ankle issues that could benefit from the help of a physiotherapist.
So What Should I Do?
When you’re hurt, it’s important to rest and let your body recover, but you also need to start moving again as soon as possible. Physiotherapy allows you to get back to your daily activities and regular exercise routine faster. Give us a call at Niagara Health & Rehab Center. Our friendly, experienced staff can assess your injuries with an initial consultation, and will be able to recommend the best course of action. Start your journey to pain-free living again today!