A physical therapist, or physiotherapist, uses both manual therapy as well as mechanical or electrical therapy to aid a patient’s recovery process and prevention. They use a number of physiotherapy equipment to reduce and relieve pain, repair the joint and muscle, and to make the patient more comfortable during his or her visit.

A physiotherapy chair, bed, couch, or table is among the various type of physiotherapy equipment. This is generally a flat cushioned bench with cushioned head support and two to seven adjustable sections. The sections adjust to lay the patient completely flat on the back, or stomach, or can be folded into different degrees to become a chair or exercise table.

The physiotherapist uses this to keep the patient comfortable while examining and diagnosing. It is also used while the patient performs specific exercises, or for massage therapy.

For exercise a physical therapist might bring in hand and leg weights, elastic bands, and exercise balls as part of their physiotherapy equipment.

A balance ball chair is a large air filled ball securely attached to a small stool set on rollers with back support. The client may use this type of equipment for exercises that require support for less strain on the spine and back.

To relieve pain, acute and chronic, physiotherapy equipment such as a TENS, or Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, system may be used.

A TENS unit provides the patient with temporary pain relief without the added use of drugs, narcotics, or painful shots. The attachments are set on the skin over the affected area where the machine sends tiny electrical currents, or pulses to the nerves. The pulses scramble and block pain signals before they reach the brain and are said to raise the level of endorphins produced by the brain.

Portable versions come as battery operated handheld devices.

Often included in a physical therapist’s physiotherapy equipment arsenal are items used in electrotherapy and ultrasound. Ultrasound devices generally consist of a round handheld wand, or probe.

This probe is placed on the patient’s skin with the use of ultrasound gel to transmit ultrasonic waves through the skin. The vibration of the tissues produce heat that helps reduce pain while relaxing and repairing muscle tissue. Ultrasound can also produce a pulse for tissue relaxation when heat is not desired.

Ultrasound can also be used to give medications that are needed below the skin. Usually used for patients unable to take needle injections. Often ultrasound wands come attached to a large electronic device connected to a cart.

Each physical therapist has her or his own method of treatment. These examples are just some of a long list of physiotherapy equipment used to treat patients.

Childrens physiotherapy is a broad term used to cover therapy given to a child age eighteen or younger. A physiotherapist, or physical therapist, is involved with a child from birth on upwards.

Infants, toddlers and children may see a physiotherapist for any number of reasons, including those that are not caused by a physical illness or disorder.

Just as adults occasionally need assistance to diagnose, treat and heal for certain physical ailments, childrens physiotherapy is necessary for problems that may arise in adolescents. Bone breaks and fractures, knee surgery, sprained ankles, and shoulder injury all can affect a child as much as an adult.

Unlike adults, a child’s body is constantly growing, constantly changing. Therefore, physical therapy needs to be adjusted to keep children motivated and to lessen their fears of failure.

While childrens physiotherapy does include the examination, diagnosis and treatment of illness, diseases, defects and disorders, physiotherapists are also concerned with a child’s natural growth development, motor skills, nutrition, emotional and mental well being.

Pediatricians have an interest in studying childrens physiotherapy to help catch early childhood conditions. They check the child’s developmental skills, such as when a newborn shows an ability to use neck muscles to raise his or her head. How early or late an infant learns to sit up and walk according to national averages gives physiotherapists clues to development of the child’s bones, muscles, and organs.

The rate at which a child develops and other physical factors tells a doctor whether or not he or she should suggest physical therapy to the parents.

Some areas involved in childrens physiotherapy include speech and language therapy, limited chest therapy, orthopedic therapy, and massage. Physical therapists work with children of any age.

Exercises, mobilization and joint manipulation, safe stretches, and posture education are all subjects a physiotherapist brings to a child. They also know techniques and methods to help children cope with Cerebral Palsy, Cystic Fibrosis, spinal injuries, headaches, allergies, muscle weakness, Multiple Sclerosis, Dyspraxia (brings about clumsiness), and Down Syndrome among many more diseases and disorders effecting children today.

Qualified and skilled physiotherapists may use manual therapy, such as massage, to help alleviate pain and relax muscles.

They may bring in equipment, such as ultrasound, to relieve pain and swelling without the use of drugs, narcotics or injections. They are also more inclined to teach parents different methods and techniques to help their child when a physical therapist is unavailable.

Childrens physiotherapy encompasses many forms and is essential to child development.

From bones, muscles and tendons, to respiratory and circulatory systems, a child will benefit from seeing a physiotherapist throughout his or her lifetime.

Equine Physiotherapy is a form of physical therapy and exercises geared toward the health and fitness of horses. It is important to keep work horses, such as those used on the farm, race horses, or those in training healthy and stress free for a long life.

Just as injuries in humans require special care and treatments in healing, as do horses. Studies show in horses that receive equine physiotherapy recover at a quicker rate with more success than those who do not.

There are many reasons an owner might need to take his or her horse for equine physiotherapy.

Injuries related to sports, age, over training, poor nutrition, improper use of saddle, imbalance of rider, and physical defects all can have a role in the type of therapy required to the animal.

Health care professionals trained in equine physiotherapy are familiar with equine anatomy and stay up to date with current technologies and medical breakthroughs. Animal physical therapists work with veterinarians and surgeons to improve the animal’s mobility, reduce pain and swelling and to prevent further irritation and injury.

Care may be given at an animal hospital, or with the therapist coming to the client’s home.

The heart, lungs, muscles, bones, digestive and blood circulation are among the areas examined in equine physiotherapy. An animal physical therapist must be able to recognize conditions pertaining to lameness, muscle and spinal problems and act accordingly.

Neck pain, back pain and problems, injuries in the tendons and ligaments, bruising, muscle spasms, joint and leg swellings are all treated by an animal physical therapist.

Depending on the reason for seeing a therapist, rehabilitation may last a matter of a couple weeks, to months or longer for serious injuries. It involves the horse, physical therapist, and owner, or trainer.

Each therapist has their own method of treating equine ailments, defects and injuries. Some techniques used in equine physiotherapy include therapeutic massage, soft tissue mobilization, hydrotherapy for joint and limb mobility, ultrasound, pulsating electromagnetic field therapy, and heat therapy. Prevention of injury, such as that by too fast of a cool down, is also taught to the client.

Animal physiotherapists use a variety of tools and equipment in their work. One such tool is a pack that resembles a heating pad designed to go around the horse’s breast or across the saddle area gives relief to back pain, and helps the animal’s muscular and circulatory systems.

Most animal physiotherapists start off with study under human physiotherapy before moving into equine physiotherapy.

With the growing trend in animal care and injury prevention, equine physiotherapy is quickly becoming a competitive field.