The Role of Physiotherapy in Healing

Why do I recommend physiotherapy?

In many cases, when people come to me with musculoskeletal problems, I see that patients cling to medications and surgery because they want “someone to fix their problem.”

Symptoms can often be effectively treated with physiotherapy, which is a safe and natural way to heal. However, this requires that the patient recognises they also have tasks to do to regain their health — it is not enough to wait for a miracle from someone else.

Physiotherapy does not just treat symptoms; it targets the root of the problem. For example, chronic low back pain can be resolved even if an MRI shows a (not fully herniated) disc protrusion. In such cases, immediate surgery is generally not recommended; instead, a course of physiotherapy is prescribed.

Within a few (typically 3–4) months, targeted exercise programmes combined with complementary physical therapy treatments can significantly reduce pain and may allow surgery to be avoided.

For which health problems do I recommend physiotherapy?

There are many conditions where physiotherapy can be especially helpful. I would like to describe in detail the main areas where physiotherapy can bring significant improvement:

Musculoskeletal problems

One of the most common areas where I recommend physiotherapy is the treatment of various musculoskeletal complaints, such as chronic arthritis. Alongside medication, a combination of physical therapy treatments (ultrasound, softlaser, magnetotherapy, microcurrent and interference) significantly improves joint mobility and reduces pain after three months.

Spine and neck problems

Modern lifestyles often lead to spine and neck issues. One young IT patient of mine had regular neck pain that interfered with his work. During physiotherapy, he learned correct posture and exercises that help prevent recurrence.

Pediatric cases

Physiotherapy shows excellent results in treating children, for example in cerebral palsy. Regular physiotherapy (such as therapeutic exercise combined with threshold electrical stimulation (TES) and muscle stimulation) can significantly improve motor coordination and the ability to move independently.

Pregnancy-related complaints

During pregnancy, expectant mothers often suffer from low back pain and weakness of the pelvic floor muscles. Special exercise programmes can be recommended for them. Targeted exercises not only relieve back pain but also speed up postpartum recovery. Physical therapy treatments such as muscle stimulation, softlaser, and magnetotherapy are not used during pregnancy to protect the fetus, so pregnant women usually rely on exercise alone.

Respiratory diseases

Breathing technique exercises can be particularly useful for asthma and other respiratory problems. They can significantly reduce the frequency and severity of attacks.

Sports injuries

Physiotherapy plays a key role in treating athletes' injuries. For active athletes it is very important to return to training as soon as possible because muscle strength declines rapidly during enforced rest due to injury.

Therefore, alongside gentle therapeutic exercises, recovery-supporting treatments such as softlaser, microcurrent, interference, ultrasound and Bemer are important. Loss of muscle strength can be prevented, slowed or even reversed with targeted muscle stimulation (EMS and NMES).

Neurological conditions

After a stroke or other neurological problems, physiotherapy is an essential part of rehabilitation. The most important elements of post-stroke rehabilitation are movement therapy and electrical stimulation. These support neuroplasticity, i.e. the brain’s “rewiring.” Physiotherapy helps regain basic motor functions, improves balance and aids in achieving independent living.

Work-related problems

Office workers often suffer from repetitive strain injuries and complaints due to poorly designed work environments (for example, tech-back). For these patients, physiotherapy not only helps treat symptoms but also teaches proper work techniques. Overuse joint, ligament and muscle complaints caused by repetitive movements can be treated with anti-inflammatory modalities such as ultrasound, microcurrent, softlaser and Bemer.

Stress and anxiety

Few people know that physiotherapy can also be effective in treating the somatic symptoms of stress and anxiety. Relaxation techniques and targeted exercises can help relieve physical tension, which often leads to an improvement in mental symptoms as well.

How does physiotherapy fit into the healing process?

As a physician, I believe healing requires a holistic approach. Physiotherapy plays a key role in this.

For example, a patient who had a stroke usually begins physiotherapy during their hospital stay. After returning home, rehabilitation MUST NOT BE STOPPED. Many think a few days in hospital are enough… Post-stroke rehabilitation often needs to continue for months, and frequently for more than a year after discharge.

A physiotherapist and a physical therapist are needed, working closely with the patient and the family to create a therapy plan that helps restore mobility.

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What does the physiotherapist do and how do they help you?

The physiotherapist is the “key” in the rehabilitation process. Doctors and hospital staff remove life-threatening conditions or reduce acute complaints. But once the patient is discharged, they cannot continue that work.

From that point on, the physiotherapy specialist should take over and:

• thoroughly assess your condition and create an exercise programme designed to gradually help you regain your pre-illness state;
• you must repeat these exercises yourself, day by day, progressively doing more — even when the physiotherapist is not present;
• the therapist (and the treating physician) may recommend home medical devices to enhance the effectiveness of physiotherapy and speed up recovery (for example, muscle stimulators, ultrasound, magnetotherapy, Bemer, softlaser, etc.);
• the physiotherapist does not visit daily! At first you will meet every 2–3 weeks, then less frequently, so the therapist can see how much you have improved with home exercises and assign new tasks or adjust device-based therapy. Over a few months they will gradually lead you out of the problem.

What is your role in healing?

As a doctor I observe that those patients who recover and are relieved of their complaints are the ones who understand the task and actively participate in the therapeutic process.

Your role is especially important because neither the doctor nor the therapist can do the exercises for you.

Regularly repeated therapeutic exercise and physiotherapy slowly and gradually produce beneficial changes in your body — they pull the problem out by the roots, i.e. they eliminate the underlying cause. That is why the complaints do not return.

Summary and outlook

As a physician I believe that physiotherapy and the therapist who guides it are extremely valuable parts and participants of the healing process. In my experience, patients who take physiotherapy seriously and cooperate with their therapist can often avoid surgical interventions and achieve lasting improvement.

Remember that healing is the result of joint effort, in which you, the treating physician and the physiotherapist each have a role. If you follow our instructions and actively participate in therapy, you significantly increase your chances of recovery.

I hope this article has helped you understand the role and importance of physiotherapy in the healing process.