Physiotherapy or physical therapy is a discipline that helps people prevent and/or treat symptoms of different pathologies through techniques and methods that will allow them to recover their health, such as exercises, heat therapy, electrical stimulation, among others. This time, Dr. Augusto Ruiz, from the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation unit of Clinica Ricardo Palma, will give us more information.

Situations in which physical therapy is needed

There are several reasons why a person may require physiotherapy, among these are:

• Musculoskeletal pain
• Orthopedic alterations
• Neurological sequelae
• Traumatological sequelae
• Sports injuries
• Alterations or consequences of child development
• Alterations or sequelae typical of old age
• Psychosomatic alterations
• Deficits in activities of daily life

Benefits

Among the main benefits of performing physical therapy are:

• Reduce muscle tension and relieve pain
• Improve mobility and muscle strength
• Prevent the risk of injury
• Improve child development
• Prevent and correct the deficits of aging

Techniques most used in physical therapy

• Passive and active therapeutic exercises to improve mobility, muscle strength, balance and motor or sensory coordination
• Relaxing massage therapy in spasticity (tense and rigid muscles) and contractures; in addition to stimulant in alterations of sensitivity
• Occupational therapy to improve activities of daily life
• Application of several stimulating, relaxing or analgesic physical agents

Dr. Augusto Ruiz
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation unit at Clinica Ricardo Palma