Orthopaedic Manual Therapy
Orthopaedic Manual Therapy is a specialised area of physiotherapy. It is largely used for assessment, management and evaluation of neuro-musculoskeletal conditions.
It dominates the intergration of clinical reasoning and use of highly specific treatment approaches including manual techniques and therapeutic exercises.
Orthopaedic Manual Therapy also encompasses, and is driven by, the available scientific and clinical evidence and the biopsychosocial framework of each individual patient.
Women's Health Therapy
Women's health is a very specialised and diverse area of physiotherapy which covers problems pertaining to pelvic floor muscles weakness and pain.
1 urinary incontinence
2. Fecal incontinence
3. Pelvic organ prolapse e.g cystocele
5. Pelvic pain e.g Vulvodynia
7. Pre /post pelvic surgery e.g hysterectomy
8. Pregnancy/ post partum care
9. Diastasi recti
Rehabilitation in sport is a process designed to minimize the loss associated with acute injury or chronic disease, to promote recovery and to maximize functional capacity, fitness and performance
Rehabilitation plan must take into account the fact that the objective of the athlete is to return to the same activity and environment in which the injury occurred. Functional capacity after rehabilitation should be the same, if not better than before injury.
The ultimate goal of rehabilitation process is to limit the extent of the injury, reduce or reverse the Impairment and functional loss and prevent, correct or eliminate altogether the disability.
Oncology and Lymphedema Therapy
Surviving cancer requires attention to optimizing function and quality of life. Physical Therapists evaluate the patient's condition throughout the cancer experience and provide effective treatment strategies to return a person to their previous level of physical function.The rehabilitation of cancer patients involves detailed assessment and intervention which is geared towards functional training, strengthening, fatigue-combating interventions, complete decongestive therapy for lymphoedema patients and relaxation techniques to meet the specific goals of each patient.
Physiotherapists provides cardiac rehabilitation to help patients recover from conditions such as congestive heart failure, open heart surgery and an array of cardiac procedures. Through individualized programs, patients benefit from specialized procedures, tools and equipment as well as an interdisciplinary team with specific training and extra experience for the cardiac rehab.
Cardiac rehabilitation programs are designed to help patients achieve positive outcomes through evidence-based clinical care so that each patient can regain function – all with the combination of critical thinking and clinical excellence. They include progressive exercise regimen tailored to fit each patient’s needs and abilities with advanced, on-site technology such as continuous pulse oximetry
Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Program- Phases
• Phase I : Inpatient/Hospital-based. Start within 24- 48 hours after admission until discharge
• Phase II-III: start 1-2 weeks post event, lasting up to 12 weeks or one year (36 sessions). Supervised program.
• Phase IV: ambulatory program
Cardiac Physiotherapy and rehabilitation services are provided for variety of conditions but not limited to :
Recent heart attack
angioplasty or stent placement
heart valve replacement
Congestive heart failure
Low function capacity hypertension
Low cardiac ejection fractions
Paediatric Physiotherapy help children to achieve their optimal physical development.
They have specialist knowledge in movement, development and conditions that are likely to affect the baby and growing child and treat from one day old babies to adolescents. Because children are not small adults these therapists encourage children to move to the best of their abilities through play and age appropriate fun and instructions
Physiotherapist play a vital role in infants or children with neurological conditions for example Cerebral palsy. Some of the interventions to improve motor activities, function and self care :
NDT, Goal directed training, HEP, Seating and assistive technology, Treadmill training, Orthotics, Context focused therapy and CIMT and Bimanual training
Providing Physiotherapy to older people is a challenge, best described by the following, working with older people can present the Physiotherapist with a set of challenges unparalleled in other areas of practice. The case load is very mixed, patients with Musculoskeletal, neurological, and cardiovascular problems may all be found in a single work load and often in the same patient.
Interlinking between medical, psychological, rehabilitation, economic and social problems that all will need attention is the norm rather than the exception.
Physiotherapist working with older Adult therefore needs a variety of skills to apply to their patients in light of biopsychosocial model to ensure a holistic, patient centred care approach. Physiotherapist has a key role in enabling older adults to use a number of the body's systems fully to enhance mobility and independence.
When neither improvement nor even maintenance of functional mobility is a reasonable goal, physiotherapists can contribute to helping older people to remain comfortable and pain free. Prevention of the development of problems in later life through health promotion