What is Physiotherapy?

Physiotherapy is the promotion of rehabilitating disabled or impaired clients to improve their functional ability, quality of life and movement potential. This is achieved through a thorough client evaluation from which a diagnosis is made and on which physical intervention is based.

Physiotherapy can help clients recover from injury, reduce pain and stiffness and increase mobility. A physiotherapist can also help you prevent further injury by listening to your needs and working with you to plan the most appropriate treatment for your condition, including setting goals and treatment outcomes.

To obtain a physiotherapy degree in South Africa, a four year Bachelor of Science Degree is required in addition to the completion of a one year community service programme. Physiotherapists are required, by law, to be registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.

For more information, please visit www.aloemed.co.za

Treatment Options:

· Exercise programs to improve muscle strength and endurance

· Joint mobilisation to reduce pain and stiffness

· Muscle re-education to improve control and reduce injury

· Soft tissue mobilisation and trigger point release

· Dry needling

· Aquatic physiotherapy

· Kinesiotaping

Aquatic Physiotherapy:

Aquatic physiotherapy is a form of physiotherapy conducted in a heated pool (32-34 degrees Celsius), where the properties and benefits of water are utilized with the knowledge and skill of the physiotherapist to improve the outcome of the rehabilitation process. An ability to swim is not necessary.

The properties of water (buoyancy, hydrostatic pressure, resistance, turbulence and thermal conductivity) are used to assist in the rehabilitation process. These properties allow for the safe and effective treatment of a variety of conditions in a warm and soothing medium.

Physiotherapists work one on one or in small groups with clients who require a specific programme to effectively treat their ailments. Water is effective in treating acute and chronic conditions, and it has been scientifically proven to reduce pain and swelling, and to increase range of movement and muscle strength and endurance.

· Non-weight-bearing land patients are able to fully weight-bear in water, thus facilitating early post-op rehabilitation.

· Clients with balance difficulties find it a comforting environment in which to work on improving balance, as the reaction time is water is 13 times slower than that on land!

· Clients with back injuries are comforted by the traction effect the water has on the spine, increasing the client's height by 2.5cm with complete submersion.

· Buoyancy offers weightlessness, thus allowing clients who have constant pain on land a large amount of pain relief while in the water.