Physical therapy and rehabilitation, congenital or acquired muscular, nervous and skeletal system problems, as well as neurological diseases, orthopedic problems, hernia, paralysis, trauma, pain, arthritis, post-operative dysfunctions and other diseases. It is a specialty dealing with the diagnosis, treatment and preventive treatment of disabilities. For the treatment of function and movement losses that may develop differently in each person, many different treatment methods are applied to the patients by physical therapists.
The aim of the treatment is to eliminate the disorder caused by different diseases and injuries and the situation that causes a decrease in the quality of life of the patient, to increase the independent movement potential, and to eliminate the existing pain and complaints. In addition, modern rehabilitation techniques are applied by a specialist physical therapy and rehabilitation physician to allay the limitation of movement that occurs in patients after injuries and injuries during sports activities.
What is Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation?
Physical therapy and rehabilitation; It is a medical science that works with a multidisciplinary approach, with other medical branches, to improve and eliminate the disability that affects the life and quality of life of the person, and to effectively return the patient to his social life. The most appropriate treatment option is applied to the patient who is inpatient or outpatient in the physical therapy and rehabilitation department, taking into account his special situation. Many methods and technological equipment are used, such as heat applications, cryotherapy, cold applications, water treatment, treatment with electric currents, phototherapy, mechanotherapy and medication, in order to determine and eliminate the functional capacity that develops due to permanent and limitation of movement. In addition to muscular and skeletal system diseases, orthopedic rehabilitation applied after orthopedic interventions, movement disorders after stroke, facial paralysis, neurological rehabilitation after nerve injuries, and pediatric rehabilitation is applied for disorders that develop during childbirth. Rehabilitation after hand surgery for nerve cut, fracture and similar problems and rehabilitation of movement disorders due to burns are also performed by physical therapists.
What Is Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Interested In?
The physical therapy and rehabilitation department deals with the elimination of pain and inflammation in patients, providing blood circulation, reducing the need for medication, and eliminating problems due to posture disorders. Physicians of the department create programs specific to the patient and the disease, organize and apply treatment. Patients with osteoporosis, carpal tunnel, cubital tunnel, neck and lumbar hernia, trigger finger, lymph nodes known as lymphedema together with SMA patients and patients who received radiotherapy and mastectomy due to breast cancer receive support from physical therapy and rehabilitation. With many methods such as intra-articular and soft tissue injections, PRP applications, neurotherapy, mesotherapy and pain treatment with dry needle, it is aimed to eliminate the conditions or situations that cause movement limitation and return the person to his normal life. Other treatments that fall under the specialty of the physical therapy and rehabilitation department are as follows;
Increasing the movements of patients with complete or partial paralysis, ensuring coordination and strengthening the muscle groups.
Improving the quality of life of patients with spinal cord injuries and cerebral palsy
• Rehabilitation of meniscus, muscle injuries, fractures and other injuries due to sports injuries
Increasing the patient’s movements with special physical therapy methods after the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.
• Rehabilitation of osteoporosis and degenerative joint diseases
Treatment of patients with spinal curvature defined as scoliosis
• Elimination of movement limitations due to fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome and increasing the quality of life of patients
• Rehabilitation after microsurgical operations applied due to hand injuries
• Rehabilitation for patients to quickly return to their daily activities before and after lumbar and neck hernia operation.
Treatment of neck-related headaches
• Treatment of nerve compression in the arm and leg
Painless and effective elimination of muscle spasms and other problems in the musculoskeletal system in the neck, back, waist and other areas with manual therapy.
What are Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Practices?
The duration of physical therapy and rehabilitation practices applied in sessions varies according to the current condition of the patient. All PTR applications are carried out within modern medical science by specialist physicians and physiotherapists. Frequently used physical therapy methods are listed below.
• Exercise: It is a treatment method in which the areas of the body where muscles and tissues are weak compared to other parts of the body are strengthened with physical activity and the muscles and skeletal systems of the patients are strengthened. It is used to relieve pain caused by posture, and posture disorder. In addition, lymphatic flow increasing breathing exercise is also applied.
Electrotherapy: It is a form of treatment performed to eliminate pain and muscle weakness by using low and high electrical currents. By applying electric currents of different frequencies to the relevant area, edema is reduced, blood circulation is increased and body functions are improved.
• Phototherapy: It is a type of treatment performed by applying laser and UV rays to the right areas.
• Hydrotherapy: In the treatment method with water, the patients are applied hot water bath, contrast bath, treatment with sea water, hot spring and whirlpool bath.
• Manual Therapy: It is a physical therapy method which is performed manually without any medication, device or tool. In this type of therapy, which is applied to allay problems such as muscle spasm, tension and pain that occur in different parts of the body, recovery is achieved in a short time.
• Mechanotherapy: It is a physical therapy method in which compress applications and manipulations are applied as well as waist and neck pulling movements using different tools.
• Thermotherapy: In this method, which is defined as superficial or deep heat applications to the problematic area, it is a type of treatment performed with hot packs, high-frequency electric currents, in other words, the use of microwaves, high-frequency sound that is ultrasound therapy, infrared rays, sun rays and paraffin bath.
• Cryotherapy: It is a type of physical therapy applied to the painful area with a cold water pack, ice pack, spray, liquid nitrogen and cold compresses. This method, known as freezing among the people, is applied to acutely developing diseases, to accelerate cellular activity, to improve the connective tissue defined as post-operative connective tissue and to increase blood circulation.
Who is a Physical Therapist and Physiotherapist?
Physicians of the department of physical therapy and rehabilitation,who receive 6 years of medical school education and then specialize in 4 years of physical medicine and rehabilitation training . PTP specialists deal with the treatment of outpatient, service and intensive care patients with high technology devices in private examination rooms, physiotherapy and exercise rooms. In addition to the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases related to the musculoskeletal system, it also plays a role in the treatment of the patients of these departments by working with other medical departments in a multidisciplinary manner. It allows patients with disorders such as pain, limitation, loss of muscle strength, balance, posture and gait disorders in joint movements to return to their routine lives. Physiotherapists, on the other hand, are people who have received a 4-year undergraduate education in the physical therapy and rehabilitation departments of the universities. They are certified health professionals who apply the treatment program organized by the physical therapist in order to improve the physical limitations that develop due to illness, injury and advanced age.
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