Physiotherapy helps people to overcome disability and pain related to orthopedic, musculoskeletal, neurological and rheumatic illness.A diabetic person with aching legs can be treated with a massage which gives a relief to the feet. After the message, the painful feet will be testified by soaking in cold water.
PREVENTION OF DIABETES:
Diabetes can be controlled by lifestyle modifications which include intensive exercise rather than pharmacological therapy. Physiotherapists can help people by planning an individualized exercise program. This exercise program helps to control the glucose level in blood and achieves optimal weight. Physiotherapy can reduce the frequency of cardiovascular events and improves the life expectancy. It also helps to improve the metabolic movements of the body in absence of weight loss. In addition to physical exercise, the use of alternate therapies such as yoga can help to achieve optimal cardiorespiratory health.
Physiotherapists can suggest specific exercises for the people with coexisting complications and caution certain movements that might be detrimental to their health. Effective counseling for physical exercise can ensure both cardio-respiratory and musculoskeletal fitness. For example, an isotonic exercise like jogging helps a person to control high blood pressure and diabetes. But a repeated foot trauma associated with jogging may cause Sensory neuropathy or Charcot’s foot.
BEYOND EXERCISE COUNSELING:
Most of the people suffering from diabetes have musculoskeletal complications like frozen shoulder, back pain or osteoarthritis. People with poorly managed type 1 diabetes have a syndrome of limited joint mobility. Diabetic amyotrophy is a type of neuropathy that has muscle wasting and weakening in the thighs. Carpal tunnel syndrome and sciatica are the other neurological conditions that occur in people suffering from diabetes.In all these conditions, physiotherapy plays a major role in returning people to their normal life. The physiotherapist uses a combination of active and passive exercises, and mechanical and electrical aids to promote musculoskeletal and neurological functions.
WIDER BENEFITS OF PHYSIOTHERAPY
Physiotherapy interventions are usually delivered on a one-to-one basis. It will provide a contemporary approach to chronic medical care. The time spent with the physiotherapist during treatment can strengthen the bonding and enhance communication between them.The need for physiotherapy services continues to grow as the number of people with diabetes continues to rise with the existing diabetes population.