In many medical fields physiotherapy may be recommended when it comes to recovery or maintaining good health. However, this should be discussed with a specialist doctor on a patient-by-patient basis.
Physiotherapy is a therapy that encompasses many branches – massage, stretching exercises, traction, electrotherapy, laser/ultrasound therapy, cold-hot contrast, wraps, paraffin, herbal baths, thermal baths and many others. It is very often recommended for: bone, joint and soft tissue problems, brain and nervous system disorders, heart and circulatory diseases or for patients suffering from lung and respiratory diseases.
The question frequently arises among those who are considering physiotherapy whether such treatments can do any harm. Well, generally speaking, no. But there are specific contraindications for each branch, depending on the conditions patients are suffering from.
Electrotherapy, for example, is a procedure to stimulate nerves and muscles using machines equipped with electrodes that emit pulses. This procedure has various benefits such as preventing and treating muscle atrophy, improving blood circulation, reducing pain, numbness and tingling.
Electrotherapy doesn’t penetrate the body, which is why it has no side effects, so it can’t do any harm. But there are some special situations to be aware of – electrodes should not be applied to open wounds, the face or neck. However, experts advise caution when using this type of therapy on people who are pregnant (if it’s on the abdominal or pelvic area), those suffering from epilepsy (it can cause seizures and convulsions) and those who have pacemakers or other metal implants.
Patients can also benefit from thermal baths as part of physiotherapy procedures. They have many benefits: they strengthen the immune system, relax, invigorate tissues and give elasticity to the skin, help to relieve the symptoms of rheumatic diseases, etc. But can thermal baths be dangerous? For some patients, yes. For example, they should be avoided by those suffering from high blood pressure, heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases, people with epilepsy, malignant tumors or infections, pregnant women or those suffering from ovarian cysts.
Can physiotherapy do harm? In general, the answer is no, but in certain particular cases, especially in people with serious medical conditions, some procedures are prohibited. That’s why these therapies are not done without the consent of a doctor and the supervision of trained personnel. On the other hand, if the procedures are tailored to the individual patient, physiotherapy will be very beneficial.
Leave a Reply