As I have evolved in the business of energizing the lives of older adults with exercise, I‘ve come to understand the value of working with others in the health care field to help my clients attain their health and fitness goals.
As a personal trainer and fitness instructor, I often collaborate with physiotherapists. Often I have clients complaining about pain in a certain area, and want me to assess them on the spot and tell them how to alleviate the discomfort.
This is not within my scope of practice, so I encourage people with those issues to either see their family doctor or a physiotherapist.
While my product may be fitness instruction and a physio’s is about physical therapy, our similar goal is to help people move, perform and feel better.
Physiotherapy is a holistic approach to health care led by practitioners dedicated to working with people to maximize their ability to move and function through their life.
There are many benefits of physiotherapy—strengthening and recuperation after surgery,decreasing and managing pain, restoring or maintaining movement, increase strength and finding relief from pain.
Osteoarthritis in the knees hips and other joints is painful and the more pain the less likely people are to move and get exercise which only makes the problem worse.
Lisa Taylor, a Kelowna physiotherapist, says keeping our joints moving really helps to alleviate pain and discomfort.
“Keeping our strength helps to keep our bodies aligned, maintain good posture and enable us to do our daily living activities. Staying involved in the community is a great way to exercise as you can meet others who can share their experiences as well,” Taylor says.
She says a big misconception is that clients accept their pain levels or their lack of function — rather than look for ways to improve it, noting that chronic conditions, such as osteoarthritis, are important to treat.
Individuals can use physiotherapy to reduce pain caused by arthritis by increasing circulation with heat/cold, soft tissue massage, ultrasound, IFC/TENS (interferential current) silicone cupping, taping, myobar, home exercise and offering supportive and protective devices such as knee braces.
For seniors, physiotherapists can help maintain current ability and prevent decline by recommending exercises to increase strength and balance to safeguard from future accidents and falls.
