The human body is capable of a vast array of amazing feats. A significant reason for this is its ability to recuperate and refresh with rest. Taking a break can help us in so many ways, and when it comes to our physical health, it’s mandatory. However, being active is essential too, so how do we know when to rest and when to move when it comes to recovery and rehabilitation?
Seeing a physiotherapist can do wonders for improving and maintaining your health and physical abilities, especially if you are experiencing an issue with your musculoskeletal system. A large part of physio involves exercise and stretching to improve mobility and functionality, so it’s fair to wonder if rest would be counterproductive.
The goal of physiotherapy often is to develop better strength, flexibility, fitness, or overall health. Read on to explore whether rest can help and whether it is required after a physiotherapy session.
Physiotherapists are highly trained allied health professionals who treat many physical conditions and ailments. Physiotherapy can help you in a wide variety of ways. These may include:
Your physio will develop a treatment plan that is suited to your requirements and goals. This may include options such as manual therapy, the prescription of exercises and stretches, education, and the use of resources such as gait analysis, customised orthotics, taping, and ultrasound therapy technology.
To help these methods take effect and to encourage the healing process, rest is crucial. What’s more, physio can be taxing on your body as you work towards your goals, so taking breaks decreases the risk of injury and exhaustion. You may feel effects such as soreness, tenderness, sensitivity, stiffness, or discomfort after a physiotherapy session. Discuss these with your physiotherapist, but usually these are normal and temporary reactions to the session.
The reason you visit a physiotherapist will determine the type of treatment you receive and how long for. This in turn affects the short- and long-term effects and what your body will need to heal as best as possible.
Some methods that can help during the resting process after a physiotherapy session include:
Physiotherapy can be significantly beneficial for a multitude of issues and a variety of goals. To reap the rewards, it is important to let your body adapt to the changes made during each physiotherapy session, ready itself for new activities and exercises, and to continue to heal. Our bodies require proper rest every day and even more so when they are struggling, trying to recover, or working towards reaching new targets. Always keep in mind that rest goes hand in hand with rehabilitation to achieve more positive outcomes.
At Powerhouse Physio, our friendly therapists are skilled and experienced at undertaking a thorough assessment for you and establishing the best course of action possible to help you gain relief and improved functionality. Contact our team to organise your initial consultation so that we can guide and support you.