Taking Care of Your Musculoskeletal Health: Combining Physiotherapy and Yoga
When it comes to taking care of your mental and physical wellbeing, there are a number of health care avenues that are available to you. From traditional drug-based western medicine to natural therapies such as physiotherapy and yoga, there are many forms of treatment you can access depending on your health condition.
If you are living with a musculoskeletal health issue and are looking to address it, natural therapies may help you with long-term pain management and sustained recovery. In fact, according to scientific research studies, natural therapies with a combined modality approach – particularly with physiotherapy and yoga – may be of great help to patients with musculoskeletal issues on their journey back to health.
Keep reading to learn more about physiotherapy and yoga, and how their combined approach may be helpful for addressing your health concerns.
What is Physiotherapy?
According to Health Direct Australia, physiotherapy is a health care practice involving the use of physical techniques to increase a person’s mobility, reduce musculoskeletal pain and improve their overall quality of life. It is practiced professionally by physiotherapists and is a drug-free health care method.
What does a Physiotherapist do?
Physiotherapist aims to improve the health of their patients by managing their chronic diseases, providing them with lifestyle advice and prescribing them with curated exercises.
A physiotherapist may also:
- Massage areas of your body
- Use techniques to manipulate your joints
- Stretch your muscles.
Some physiotherapists may also help children who live with mobility problems.
What can a Physiotherapist help with?
A physiotherapist may be able to improve your health by helping with health concerns such as:
- Back pain
- Knee pain
- Arthritis
- Aches, sprains, and strains
- Stroke recovery
- Rehabilitation after surgery
- Healing from broken bones
What is Yoga?
Yoga is a form of exercise that focuses on improving an individual’s strength, flexibility, and breathing patterns to boost their physical and mental wellbeing. It involves maintaining a series of postures over a designated period of time to help individuals take care of their physical and mental health.
How can Yoga improve your health?
Yoga may provide your body and mind with many health benefits, including:
- Improving your flexibility
- Strengthening and toning your muscles
- Calming your mind
- Increasing your energy levels
How can you get started on yoga and physiotherapy?
Combining physiotherapy and yoga is a multimodal approach that may address various health concerns, including musculoskeletal issues. If you are looking to get started on a combined health care method of yoga and physiotherapy, below are the steps you may take.
- Speak with your physiotherapist for health advice
Speaking with a physiotherapist may help you understand the types of movements deemed safe and healthy for your body. This is important information to know, especially if you are looking to try out yoga so that you can determine what is helpful or harmful to your body based on your health conditions.
- Look for a yoga therapist or instructor
When looking for a yoga therapist or instructor, be sure to find one who is licensed and professionally trained. Finding a yoga therapist or instructor who is in tune with your health values is integral to a positive yoga experience. You may ask your general practitioner or physiotherapist for yoga instructor recommendations.
- Understand your health goals before pairing the two together
When combined, physiotherapy and yoga can make for a helpful pairing to improve your body’s mobility and address any musculoskeletal issues you are living with. However, before pairing them together, it is important to understand your health goals (e.g. your ideal recovery time, the extent of your body’s flexibility, etc.) so that you can find a balance between the two.
Combining Health Care Modalities: Physiotherapy and Yoga
Both physiotherapy and yoga are individually great health care methods to consider for those living with musculoskeletal health concerns or chronic pain. Both aim to increase flexibility and mobility within the body, as well as improve an individual’s general lifestyle and wellbeing.
When combined, the two health cares may make for a multimodal approach to addressing your health concerns. You may consider undergoing such a multimodal approach under the advice of a health care practitioner such as those at TherapyWorks.
