A physiotherapist’s job is to get their patient moving. So if there’s a way to use physical movement to rehabilitate an injury, a physiotherapist is there for guidance. If there’s an opportunity to use physiotherapy to work through a chronic pain condition, a physiotherapist is there to find the correct movements to get the body balanced.
If there’s a reason for a person’s lack of movement, a physiotherapist is there to address it. To all these points, movement is incredibly important to injury rehabilitation and/or prevention. Here are some of the top benefits of physiotherapy.
1. A healthier heart.
For some of Canadians, even the most basic movements can be a struggle. Using intelligent movements, as slow as you may be moving or as little as it may be, it’s still challenging your body aerobically. That means, maybe in time, you can take a longer walk than you used to be able to do, or you can play with your kids or grandchildren for a longer time than you could before. Strengthen your heart and improve your cardiovascular condition.
2. Build muscle.
When we are physically inactive, our muscles weaken and waste. Subsequently, as we age, muscle mass and strength begins to decline beginning sometime around fifty years of age. Initially, it might not be obvious that it’s happening but it is. As muscle wastes, that’s replaced with fatty tissue. Physiotherapy is an opportunity to use simple strengthening or resistance movements to give you the opportunity to participate in life. Repair your body and build muscle.
3. Healthy bones.
If you’re someone with chronic pain who is using physiotherapy to get stronger and to gain movement, another benefit is you’ll be able to maintain healthier bone mineral density levels.
Osteoporosis is developed by up to 50 percent of women over the age of sixty-five and up to 20 percent of men in the same age bracket. Through physiotherapy weight-bearing movements, this can help the body turn on its natural mechanisms to improve bone density.
4. Better balance.
Through physiotherapy, you can also improve your balance. When an older person has decreased muscle strength or joint stiffness, combined with reduced vision and decreased reaction time, this can cause balance issues.
Using specific movements with the guidance of a physiotherapist, things like balance and coordination can be targeted. A physiotherapist will assess balance and agility, and prescribe the right plan moving forward.
5. Flexible joints.
If you cannot move your muscles or joints through normal range, this is a sign flexibility is an issue. For patients who do not work to maintain their flexibility, as we age, it can quite easily decrease. If you find yourself being very stiff in the morning, flexibility-based physiotherapy is a recommendation.
6. Better sleep.
Through physiotherapy which will hopefully lead into more advanced, strenuous exercises, you can tire your body out which is a good thing when it comes to sleep. Sleeping lets the body recover and prepare itself for the next day. By letting the body experience a deep sleep, this boosts immune function and helps to control stress better. Being physically active and expending energy in physiotherapy is a good thing for anyone prone to sleep troubles.
7. Improve concentration.
Using physiotherapy movements, it can positively impact the mental aspect as well. These movements are shown to increase energy, improve engagement, and release endorphins in the body to help elevate mood. Exercise of any kind can help to engage the mind and body, reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression as well.
If you want to enjoy a better quality of life but are physically restricted or are struggling with a lack of flexibility, a lack of strength, or a lack of balance, physiotherapy can help. Give yourself the power to have your life back, to perform daily activities without pain, and enjoy your freedom again. Contact Bramalea Chiropractic today for more information on how we can help.
