Physiotherapy is the use of physical methods for therapeutic and preventive purposes, including electromagnetic radiation, electric current, heat, and mechanical effect.
What is the effect of physiotherapy?
The effects of physiotherapeutic methods are based on anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-edematous actions, stimulation of tissue trophism, and improvement of microcirculation. A number of therapeutic physical factors are also capable of influencing the immune system by correcting its imbalance.
Treatment with direct and pulsed electrical currents (galvanization, therapeutic electrophoresis, amplipulse therapy, interferential therapy) enhances metabolic processes, accelerates nerve conduction, improves regional blood circulation, and promotes resorption of inflammatory foci. These methods have a pronounced analgesic effect, reduce the sensitivity of peripheral pain receptors, normalize excitation and inhibition processes in the central nervous system, improve trophic and neuromuscular function, and enhance venous outflow.
Light therapy has desensitizing, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-edematous, and bactericidal effects. It activates the function of the reticuloendothelial system and improves the immunological activity of the body.
Magnetotherapy is a treatment method using constant and pulsed magnetic fields. Local and general magnetotherapy are distinguished. It has sedative, neuromyostimulating, vasoactive, trophic-regenerative, vasodilatory, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-edematous effects.
Darsonvalization is applied to painful and reflexogenic zones. It improves regeneration and microcirculation, reduces the tone of small and medium-sized arteries, and provides analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. It reduces the severity of autonomic-trophic disorders and tissue hypoxia.
Ultrasound therapy (ultrasound and ultraphonophoresis of medicinal substances) is applied to the area of affected joints and paravertebrally, contributing to moderate vasodilation, increased blood circulation, restoration of nerve conduction, and providing analgesic, antispasmodic, and anti-inflammatory effects.
Laser therapy (magnetolaser therapy, laser acupuncture) has anti-inflammatory and desensitizing effects, stimulates hematopoiesis, increases blood supply and microcirculation in tissues, enhances metabolic activity and cellular resistance, suppresses pathogenic microflora, and provides analgesic and trophic-regenerative effects.
EHF therapy (extremely high frequency or millimeter-wave therapy) improves tissue trophism, accelerates reparative processes, increases organism-specific resistance, restores homeostasis, and stimulates immunogenesis and hematopoiesis. It has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.
Who is indicated for physiotherapeutic procedures?
The indications for various physiotherapeutic methods are very diverse and depend on the disease, its stage, activity of the process, and the degree of functional impairment of the organ. Physiotherapy is used in diseases of the nervous, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal systems, gastrointestinal diseases, as well as in gynecology, urology, proctology, ophthalmology, and in the treatment of ear, nose, and throat disorders. Physiotherapeutic methods are used both in children and in elderly patients.
Are there contraindications to physiotherapy?
Yes, as with any therapeutic intervention, physiotherapy also has contraindications. There are general contraindications to physiotherapy as a whole (which are relatively few), as well as specific contraindications for certain types of physiotherapeutic treatment. For example, magnetotherapy is contraindicated in pronounced hypotension and hypocoagulation syndrome, while electrotherapy is contraindicated in cardiac rhythm disorders.
What are the advantages of physiotherapy?
Physiotherapeutic methods are associated with a minimal number of side effects, and allergic reactions are rare. When proper techniques and protocols are followed, procedures are safe and generally well tolerated, producing comfortable sensations for patients. By acting on various components of the pathological process—pain, inflammation, functional impairment, and to a certain extent the cause of the disease—physical factors help improve the patient’s condition and enhance the overall effectiveness of treatment.
Is it possible to undergo several physiotherapy procedures at the same time?
Yes, it is often not only possible but necessary, since different physical factors act on different mechanisms of the pathological process. However, only a qualified physiotherapist can develop an individual treatment and rehabilitation program using physiotherapeutic methods that are appropriate for a specific disease, patient condition, and existing contraindications. The treatment plan may include several procedures performed on the same day, alternating procedures on different days, or sequential courses of physiotherapy using various treatment modalities.
Why undergo physiotherapy in Belarus?
Belarusian medical centers offer modern physiotherapeutic methods using state-of-the-art equipment. An individualized selection of procedures allows achievement of the maximum therapeutic effect.
