Physical Therapy Equipment
Physical or physio
therapy assesses, diagnoses and treats diseases
and disabilities through physical means. It
is generally considered to be within conventional
rather than alternative medicine as it is
based on modern principles of medical science.
There are three main
types that use different kinds of equipment.
Musculoskeletal physical
therapy
This includes modalities
such as exercise prescription for strength,
motor control, stretches and endurance. The
benefits of electrotherapy are still under
debate.
Cardiopulmonary physical
therapy
This treats acute problems
such as asthma, chest infections and other
breathing difficulties. It may also involve
manual techniques to clear mucus from the
chest and also non-invasive ventilating methods
to help the patient breathe.
Neurological physical
therapy
This aims to treat
neurological conditions and brain damage through
repetitive movement. It can sometimes last
for a number of years.
Physical therapy has been growing in demand
and respect over the last couple of years.
The equipment needed will depend strongly
on the therapist involved and the nature of
the therapy required.