Physiotherapy treatments: specialized geriatric physiotherapy

Physical therapy for the elderly is a busy field. Illnesses and medical conditions that require physical therapy abound in older people, and while these cases are not easy to manage, the results when good are enough rewards.

This field is known as geriatric physiotherapy. It was named a specialized field in 1989. Therapists have studied the problems affecting the elderly since then. Several problems affecting the elderly population have been identified and are treated with geriatric physiotherapy.

Disorders covered by physical therapy for the elderly include, but are not limited to, arthritic disorders, lung disease, joint replacements, heart disease, cancer, balance disorders, incontinence, Alzheimer's, lung disorders, strokes, and osteoporosis. Each disorder is treated with its own unique treatment.

Geriatric physiotherapy faces three different types of programs, grouped accordingly into different categories. The first category included disorders that occur due to limb disuse or lack of exercise. These problems are solved by exercises that restore a person's normal range of motion.

The second category of geriatric physiotherapy addresses the problems derived from cardiovascular diseases. A variety of techniques can be employed such as water therapy, electrical stimulation, physical exercise, and various other methods.

The last category of physiotherapy methods deals with problems related to skeletal structure. Diseases that affect the bones, such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, require specialized treatments, as patients have little resistance to injury and physical exercise is difficult and painful.

Treatments for osteoporosis are particularly important due to the brittle nature of the bones. In addition to that, physical therapy restores a person's balance and trains them to stay better, preventing frequent falls and injuries. Some therapy centers only pay attention to gait and balance problems for the elderly population.

Geriatric physiotherapy, unlike other fields of physiotherapy, is not intended to make patients perform better than they used to. For elderly patients, the primary goal is to enable them to perform basic functions and daily activities without relying on the help of others. It allows them to live an independent life.

Physical therapists also try to bring back the joys of hobby activities to their patients. One point in the example is golf, a sport enjoyed by several older adults. Although it has health benefits, it can be dangerous for someone who is not in the best of health.

As a result, physical therapy is often aimed at training older people to get in the right physical shape to play their favorite sports. Allowing them independence and physical fitness to play a sport at an advanced age gives them a physiological conditions arising from chronic injury, age, or other debilitating diseases and psychological boost. It also keeps depression at bay, which in recent years has claimed an increasing number of older people.

Rehabilitation also figures prominently in geriatric physiotherapy, especially after joint replacement surgeries. These surgeries alter the patient's gait and also influence the way they perform daily tasks. Physical therapists can help them regain their former quality of life.

Often, the elderly will take physical therapy assistance to better perform their normal functions. Doctors may also refer patients under their care to physical therapists for problems that may aid in treatment. Accidents and age-related disorders are, of course, the main reason for patients to register for a physical therapy clinic. Geriatric physiotherapy has a solution for all these problems.