The loss of mobility can have a devastating effect on your quality of life. Mobility is your ability to move across space, either by walking, by wheelchair or by a walker. When you lose mobility you lose autonomy, and this is why the main goal of a physiotherapy practice is to recover the loss of motion and improve mobility for their patients.
Physiotherapy, or physical therapy, is a manipulation of the body and muscles used to rebuild muscle to heal and support previous injuries. Physiotherapy is a vital part of healing for any injury. Even a more minor injury like a sprain or a minor bone break can benefit from physiotherapy. In fact, obtaining physiotherapy after a physical injury is the best way to ensure that mobility is not limited due to the injury.
How does physiotherapy work to improve mobility, and why is this important? As mentioned in the introduction, loss of mobility can have many negative effects on the quality of life of an injured person. Without the ability to move freely and without pain, a person may experience depression, weight gain, or other negative health consequences. Other muscles or old injuries can be damaged or exacerbated by an injury that doesn't heal properly. Loss of mobility can also have personal consequences. Without a full range of mobility, people can lose precious family time when they aren't able to join in normal activities. They can lose the self-confidence and sense of self-worth that comes with the ability to participate in hobbies or recreational sports. Loss of mobility can also have dire financial consequences including loss of employment or costly medical bills that can add up over time due to an untreated injury.
Now that we understand why it is so important to treat loss of mobility, let's discuss how exactly physiotherapy can work to improve mobility. Physiotherapy helps you regain your mobility by building strength and confidence through exercises designed especially for your specific situation.
Physiotherapists will work to get you moving as efficiently and safely as possibly. Many different therapies and aids are used to get you moving again. The goal is to help you gain your independence and confidence back. First, the physiotherapist will do an assessment of your ability to move. Through this assessment, they will be able to tell what muscles are too tight, injured or need strengthening. You will be assigned exercises to help gain strength, flexibility, and balance where you need it. These exercises will be taught to you in person. You may be instructed to practice them at home. Be sure to follow your therapist's instructions carefully. Your physiotherapist will also work with you on differing terrain to be sure that you can handle hills, uneven sidewalks, and other varying surfaces.
Ultimately, your physiotherapist will do whatever is necessary to get you moving again in a confident, independent manner. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully. Your therapist is an expert, and they don't want you to move forward too quickly at the risk or re-injuring yourself. With hard work and patience, many people are able to regain mobility through physiotherapy work.