PHYSIOTHERAPY: WHAT, TO WHOM, FOR WHAT, AND WHEN?

To facilitate the course of the disease, we widely use medicines using their various forms: ointments, tablets, and rubbing. But mostly because of its chemical composition. Medicines have negative effects after taking them. Physiological methods, without having a negative impact, help our body to recover from many diseases. Physiotherapy is a branch of medicine that affects the body using its

Goals of Physiotherapy

Using the natural forces of nature for treatment provides an opportunity to achieve an effective result, reducing the possibility of negative consequences, increasing recovery periods, and eliminating the complications of the disease. To prevent many diseases, physiotherapy techniques are successfully used.

Healing effects

Physiotherapy acts as an additional method of recovery and health improvement. The doctor prescribes a course of physiotherapy to the patient to provide the following effects:

• improvement of blood microcirculation and lymphatic supply;
• pain reduction;
• increased immunity;
• improved vibration sensitivity
• biofeedback therapy – for problems of emotional dysregulation ;
• improved metabolism;
• acceleration of the processes of repair and tissue regeneration;
• removal of puffiness and elimination of edema;
• electromyostimulation;
• decrease in skeletal muscle tone ;
• relaxation;
• body adaptation ;
• regeneration of organs and tissues;
• improvement of brain activity;
• treatment of stress and depression;
• reduction of the immobilization period ;
• preoperative preparation.

Application in the medical fields

Doctors widely use physiotherapeutic methods of treatment for the prevention and treatment of diseases in various fields of medicine: gynecology, urology, venereology, sexopathology, surgery, dentistry, ophthalmology, neurology, pediatrics, cardiology, pulmonology, gastroenterology, psychology, rehabilitation, orthopedics, rheumatology, cosmetology, trichology, dermatology, endocrinology, traumatology, and even oncology.

If necessary, the doctor will prescribe examinations using medical equipment, for example, a cardiogram, x-rays of the spine and other organs, ultrasound, computed, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

To diagnose the causes of pain in medicine, doctors use a whole range of methods:

• examination of human organs using a computer;
• measurement of heart rate and muscle contractions;
• listening to the valvular apparatus of the heart using echocardiography;
• spirometry study;
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI);
• duplex scanning;
• computed tomography (CT);
• comprehensive examination.

Physiotherapeutic procedures help eliminate the inflammatory process, improve tissue trophism by activating blood circulation, and normalize nerve conduction. Therefore, doctors usually prescribe a course of magnetic therapy, ultrasound therapy, laser therapy, phonophoresis, and drug electrophoresis.

To diagnose the causes of pain, doctors use a whole range of methods using hardware diagnostics:

• ultrasound (ultrasound) – determines the level of inflammation;
• cystoscopy – examination of the internal structure of the organ, using an endoscope, for the presence of tumors;
• radiography – examination of the body for the presence of defects;
• electrocardiography;
• daily measurement of blood pressure;
• electroneuromyography;
• study of neuromuscular conduction.

Methods of physiotherapy procedures

The method of conducting physiotherapy procedures are divided into :

• general,
• local, 
• on segmental-reflex;
• on biologically active points;
• Zakharyin-Ged zone.

Features of procedures

1. Only one general physiotherapy is allowed per day. Local procedures must be carried out first, and only then general physiotherapy. The daily number of physiotherapy procedures should not exceed three.
2. On the same day, you can not perform physiotherapy of the opposite effect: for example, after thermal treatment – ice baths.
3. Only one physiotherapy per projection or reflexogenic zone can be used per day.
4. Treatment with physiotherapeutic methods cannot be combined with acupuncture.
5. Considering that physiotherapeutic methods enhance the effect of drugs, their use should be reviewed.
6. It is necessary to observe the compatibility of physical factors.
7. Re-treatment with physiotherapeutic methods can be started no earlier than six months after the end of the previous treatment.

Sections of physiotherapy

Electrotherapy with various effects:

• Galvanization – exposure to direct electric current up to 50 mA (low power) and voltage up to 60V (low);
• Amplipulse therapy – is carried out using current fluctuations to improve blood supply and metabolism and increase muscle tone;
• Electrical stimulation – affects the muscles and nerve trunks with pulsed electric currents;
• Darsonvalization – influence on the surface tissues of the body by high-frequency pulsed currents;
• Electrosleep is an action on the central nervous system of a person by a pulsed current of low frequency;
• Diadynamic therapy – the influence of diadynamic currents on the body for therapeutic, prophylactic, and rehabilitation purposes;
• Interference therapy – the action of two currents of different frequencies in pain syndromes of neuromuscular etiology, injuries of the musculoskeletal system, deforming arthrosis;
• Inductotherapy is the action of an alternating electric current, in which internal heat is generated in the internal organs and blood flow paths;
• Fluctuorization – a low voltage electric current with a chaotically changing frequency and amplitude;
• Electronarcosis – the impact of an electric current of a certain force on the central nervous system;
• Magnetotherapy – the use of a static or alternating magnetic field;
• Ultratonotherapy – the use of alternating currents activates the metabolism of surface tissues and enhances their secretory activity.
• UHF therapy – the action of an alternating magnetic field of high and ultrahigh frequency;
• Franklinization – exposure to a constant electric field with high voltage for up to a quarter of an hour;
• Microwave (SMW and UHF-therapy) is a treatment method based on the use of microwave energy in an electromagnetic field of ultrahigh frequency;
• Infit-therapy – the influence of an electric field of low frequency and low intensity to improve microcirculation and stimulate tissue metabolism;

Phototherapy :

• Ultraviolet radiation – electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength from 30 FHz to 750 THz ;
• Infrared radiation – electromagnetic radiation covers wavelengths from 780 nm to about 1 mm and frequencies from 300 GHz to 385 THz ;
• Visible radiation is electromagnetic waves ranging from approximately 380 nm (violet) to 740 nm (red). These waves have a frequency between 400 and 790 terahertz.

Heat therapy is a method of treatment with heat. The physiotherapeutic direction, where, with the help of heat, deep heating of the tissues of the body occurs, is divided into types :

• paraffin treatment (paraffin is used);
• ozokerite (using carbon and paraffin);
• psammotherapy (sand is used);
• clay therapy (clay is used);
• mud therapy (therapeutic mud is used);
• baths and saunas.

Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy restores good spirits and energy; dousing with cold water and wiping with a wet towel has an energy effect. You can take a contrast shower, Charcot’s shower that trains the blood vessels. You can hydromassage the feet to quickly restore blood circulation or steam the feet in an aqueous solution with sea salt or medicinal herbs. The use of baths using hydromassage, pearl baths, using herbal decoctions.

Physical impact:

• Massage is effective; it involves a mechanical effect on the skin, rubbing and pressing. Tactile touches help to relax and get pleasant emotions.
• Mechanotherapy is a set of exercises aimed at restoring body functions with simulators.
• Manual therapy is a treatment when a doctor works with his hands on the spine muscles on a person’s limbs to bring the body back to normal functioning.
• Physiotherapy. Regular exercise will help improve blood circulation. This can be achieved only by performing smooth, slightly slow movements with a small amplitude; the exercises must be performed slowly without sudden movements. Classes must be held in a well-ventilated area but not in a draft.
• Vibrotherapy treatment of inflammatory processes using special low-frequency vibration devices (in the form of vibration massage).
• Ultrasound therapy helps to reduce exacerbations for recovery in the postoperative period and with pinched nerves and inflammation of the joints, gynecological diseases, ENT diseases, and dentistry.

Climatotherapy is a section of physiotherapy using climate and weather factors for therapeutic purposes:

• heliotherapy (sun rays);
• aerotherapy (air);
• speleotherapy (salt caves);
• thalassotherapy (sea, algae, sea mud).

Physiopharmacotherapy is a section of physiotherapy using the actions of medicinal substances for therapeutic purposes:

• electrophoresis;
• electro aerosol therapy;
• ultraphonophoresis.

Contraindications to physiotherapy

Before starting a course of physiotherapy, the patient must make an appointment and consult with the attending physician.

Absolute contraindications :

• fever;
• myocardial infarction in the acute phase;
• hemophilia ;
• hemostasiopathia ;
• exacerbation of chronic processes;
• violation of the patient’s consciousness;
• loss of muscle mass ;
• mental illness during an exacerbation;
• the presence of a pacemaker;
• individual intolerance.

Relative contraindications .

If the patient has additional diseases, physiotherapeutic methods must be performed, considering the method, amount of time, and area individually.

• hidden tumors;
• wounds and injuries of the skin;
• pregnancy and lactation;
• the presence of stones in the internal organs;
• lowering blood pressure ;
• inflammation of the veins ;
• decrease in bone density.

When conducting treatment, it is necessary to comply with the attending physician’s professional requirements. Then the effect and benefits of hardware medicine will not be long.

Physiotherapy helps the patient eliminate the painful symptoms of many diseases, reduce the inflammatory process, improve tissue trophism by activating blood circulation, and normalize nerve conduction. To quickly and efficiently understand the causes of pain, the patient needs to make an appointment with a doctor and conduct an examination using modern medical equipment.