About 11 million Canadians who are over 12 years old are affected by musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders every year. Evidence suggests physiotherapy has been a safe and effective treatment for most MSK conditions. The musculoskeletal system consists of muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons, nerves, spinal discs and cartilage. It enables us to do daily activities in life such as walking, running, standing, deskjobs and so on. Musculoskeletal physiotherapy is a specialized field in physiotherapy that focuses on the treatment and well-being of this system. It is based on the sciences of physiology, anatomy and biomechanics.
What are Common Musculoskeletal Conditions?
Musculoskeletal conditions are the most common reason why children and about two-thirds of all adults need physical therapy. The conditions have various forms and origins. Some may occur suddenly but go away after a few days on their own. Some conditions like back pain are chronic and take time to recover.
Here are the common structures affected by musculoskeletal problems.
Muscles (Fibromyalgia, Sarcopenia)
Joints (Psoriatic Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis)
Bones (Osteopenia and Osteoporosis)
Besides these, MSK conditions can also affect multiple body systems or areas. For instance, it can affect specific regions such as neck or shoulder pain. It can also be widespread such as in fibromyalgia.
What is the Role of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy?
Any damage or injury to the musculoskeletal system causes pain, discomfort and mobility problems. MSK physiotherapy helps reduce the pain, restores optimal movement and enables proper functioning of muscles. It is an effective tool when it comes to pain management, injury prevention and physical rehabilitation.
Unlike other treatments, physiotherapy fixes the problem from its core. It uses hands-on manipulation techniques and the body’s natural healing abilities to provide you with long-term recovery.
MSK physiotherapy focuses on helping patients return to healthy living after an MSK injury. The combination of physiotherapy treatments improves physical function, enables an early return to normal life and reduces disability.
Which Treatments Are Involved?
The physiotherapists evaluate your injuries and recommend a treatment plan accordingly. Check out the best approaches to treating MSK injuries.
Exercise prescriptions
Stretching and strengthening exercises help improve your strength, flexibility and mobility. You can return to normal functional ability once you complete the exercise program recommended by your physical therapist.
Joint mobilization training
The physiotherapist may use hands-on joint mobilization techniques to restore the optimal range of motion of your bones. This helps reduce pain and enables free movement.
Aqua therapy
It is also known as hydrotherapy. It involves the rehabilitation of muscles and joints in water, which helps relax and support your body weight. The therapy is comforting. It mainly helps with movement problems but reduces muscle or joint pain as well.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is the process of inserting thin needles into specific acupoints present beneath the muscles. This triggers the natural healing response of your body, reducing pain and other related symptoms.
What to Expect from Musculoskeletal Physiotherapists?
MSK physiotherapists specialize in the assessment and diagnosis of MSK injuries. They start with an injury assessment, understand your health goals, diagnose the problem and develop a proper treatment plan. The plan usually consists of exercises, rehabilitation techniques, education, joint and tissue mobilization and massage therapy. If you are in Brampton and in need of a musculoskeletal physiotherapist, Physiotherapy First can help you out.
