Individuals who suffer from various movement disorders may benefit from physiotherapy. It can help alleviate pain and improve mobility and quality of life. This therapy uses a number of methods, including heat, exercises and electrotherapy.
Integrating physiotherapy into PHC faces challenges such as physicians’ poor knowledge of physiotherapy, ineffective teamwork, time constraints and workload, and lack of clarity over the role and knowledge of physiotherapists.
Relieves Pain and Stiffness
Myotherapy is a hands-on manual therapy that focuses on the assessment, treatment and management of neuromusculoskeletal pain and dysfunction to help individuals return to their optimal level of function and health. It incorporates a wide range of techniques including massage, dry needling and trigger point therapy that can reduce pain, tightness and increase mobility.
Myotherapists at ‘Specific Physiotherapy ‘(www.specificphysiotherapy.com.au) are trained to identify and address myofascial trigger points, which are knots within muscles that cause pain. They also know how to manipulate the ligaments, tendons and fascia (the thin sheets of connective tissue that surround muscles, joints and other parts of the body) that can impact movement and lead to pain.
Research has shown that combining Myotherapy with Physiotherapy can improve outcomes for people with chronic back pain, sciatica, neck pain and shoulder problems. It can also be helpful for those who have a sporting injury, or who have a job that requires repetitive movements, such as a tradesperson or office worker.
The participants of the study who received Myotherapy with Physiotherapy reported that their pain and stiffness was significantly alleviated as well as their inflammation and swelling. They also noted that their arthritic symptoms were reduced. Although Physiotherapy shares many techniques with Myotherapy, it has more of an emphasis on a patient’s rehabilitation program and exercise prescription. This is because Physiotherapists work in hospitals and are trained to manage the pain and movement issues resulting from chronic conditions like arthritis.
Increases Mobility
Myotherapy in Preston uses a wide variety of soft tissue techniques (therapeutic massage, muscle energy techniques, positional release techniques, joint mobilisation and myofascial release) and temperature therapies (ice baths, heat lamps and whirlpools).
These techniques can help reduce pain and stiffness, improve range of motion and flexibility, release trigger points and facilitate tissue healing. They can also promote improved posture and alignment, and enhance overall health.
Physiotherapists often work with individuals to set goals that will lead to increased independence, and improved quality of life. This can be anything from helping an injured athlete return to the playing field, to assisting an elderly individual in maintaining their independence at home.
The physiotherapists interviewed also discussed their own professional challenges in providing collaborative and person-centered services. They identified a need for more verbal communication and closer collaboration across health care levels and clinical settings. Physiotherapists also felt a need for support in the assessment of complex issues such as mental health, substance misuse and housing.
Physiotherapy also helps with injury prevention. It can identify and address musculoskeletal imbalances, which can then be addressed with a targeted exercise program or biomechanical analysis. This can prevent injuries from occurring in the future, and enable individuals to perform their best when engaging in physical activity. It can also assist with stress management, by releasing endorphins through therapeutic touch and the calming effects of massage.
Helps Individuals Develop a Sense of Control and Empowerment
While physiotherapy focuses on the body, helping individuals strengthen and stretch their muscles, myotherapy specifically targets soft tissue issues such as muscle tightness or tension. It can also assist with pain relief, and improve overall quality of life. By improving physical health, individuals can develop a stronger sense of self-esteem and confidence, as well as reduce their symptoms of anxiety or depression.
Physiotherapists are trained to assess, diagnose and treat a variety of injuries, illnesses and disabilities. They can work alongside medical professionals to support self-management, addressing the complexities of chronic disease, and help individuals to cope with uncertainty and unpredictability.
A person-centered and collaborative practice is considered crucial in contemporary physiotherapy, although research has shown that these ideals are often difficult to realize in daily practice (Solvang and Fougner, 2016). In the study by Irgens, Henriksen, and Moe (2021a) physiotherapists from both the municipality and hospital setting were interviewed about their experiences working with rehabilitation services for older adults.
The physiotherapists described their own practices as in some way conforming to the ideals of collaborative and person-centered practice, but that they were unable to fulfill this role within their current context. They reported that collaboration, phone calls and understanding psychosocial problems fell outside of their core professional tasks. They called for a more centralized approach to collaboration and described the need for more verbal communication, instead of relying on electronic messages.
Helps Individuals Connect with Others
In addition to helping alleviate pain and improving movement, myotherapy is a great way for individuals with spinal stenosis to connect with others who are dealing with the same issues. Having support from peers and sharing experiences can help individuals feel more connected and less alone, and in turn can improve mood.
Myotherapy techniques, such as soft tissue massage and trigger point therapy, are designed to identify and address tense muscles in the back and neck, which can be a cause of pain and tightness associated with spinal stenosis. Additionally, myotherapy exercises and lifestyle recommendations can assist in maintaining a healthy weight, reducing the strain on the spine.
In the focus group discussions, physiotherapists described the importance of collaborative and connecting work that goes beyond basic professional tasks and involves information exchange. For example, physiotherapists often described that a hospital-based physician’s discharge summary was insufficient as it lacked a holistic understanding of the individual and only outlined medical information relevant to the hospital.
Participants also spoke about their experience of collaboration with GPs and the difficulty in reaching them. They felt that it was important to communicate with GPs on an ongoing basis and for verbal communication. Similarly, they wanted to know more about patients’ lives outside of the rehabilitation context and the disclosure of personal information, while maintaining professional boundaries.
