If you’ve been sitting at your desk all day, then no doubt somewhere in your body, you’re feeling pain. Our bodies are made to move, and sitting down all day certainly ain’t good for us.
While stretching after a long day can help, those odd muscular niggles in backs, necks and shoulders can start to turn into a dull daily ache, which can then adversely affect your everyday life.
If you have been experiencing pain, then it might be a good idea to physiotherapy. Indeed, physiotherapy isn’t just reserved for sports stars, elite athletes and those who have had an accident or injury. Indeed, physiotherapists have been helping desk workers sort out those nagging pains for decades.
When it comes to health, as The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) writes, “Physiotherapists take a ‘whole person’ approach. The way in which you spend your working time is taken into consideration as part of a physiotherapy assessment”.
Moreover, they continue that “physiotherapists are well-placed to support you to prevent health problems such as back or neck pain” which are common complaints experienced by those of us confined to a desk all day.
But what actually happens in ? Read on to learn more about the different techniques these practitioners use and what happens in a physiotherapy session.
What’s The Difference Between Therapy Practitioners?
If you want to understand what a physiotherapist does, then you’ve got to know more about the difference between a physiotherapist, a chiropractor, and an osteopath.
A physiotherapist is a professional who can help you if you’re suffering pain after an injury or have a disability. They focus on exercises to strengthen muscles and offer some manual, hands-on therapy to help improve mobility.
A chiropractor tends to focus on the back and neck and works with skeletal issues as well as muscular ones. Treatments are often hands-on and adjustments to the spine are thought to improve other systems within the body, too.
An osteopath provides a hands-on approach designed to manipulate the joints and muscles for better movement, allowing reduced pain and increased blood flow.
All of these professionals have their place, and you should research each in-depth to choose which is the best option for your individual circumstances.
What Happens In A Physiotherapy Session?
At an initial physio appointment, details of your condition will be discussed. The physio will then examine you and do some tests with you to check your mobility in that area. The physio will identify the underlying causes of your pain and will develop a personalised treatment plan, often in the form of exercises to perform at home.
When it comes to common complaints experienced by office workers, physiotherapy sessions and treatments such as soft-tissue massage and joint mobilisation are often suggested. The therapist will then want to see you again to assess if the exercises helped or not and discuss any further action that may need to be taken.
On occasion, scans are done at the request of your therapist. This allows them to assess internal damage, and over time, if improvement is not seen, surgery or other treatments may be recommended.
To give you a specific example, the experts at physiohelp4you.com tell us that at their physiotherapy clinic in Yates, following a comprehensive history taking and physical examination, they will make a diagnosis of your condition. This is the key to providing a fast and effective solution to your problem. They will then discuss specific treatment options and agree on a plan formulated to suit your personal needs.
When it comes to treatment, a therapist will use different physio techniques to reduce pain which include; exercises with the therapist, posture improvements, and also acupuncture. Also included in treatment might be electro, laser, and ultrasound therapy using the latest professional equipment.
Private Or NHS?
Whilst the NHS has a good physiotherapy provision, waiting lists can be long and if you want to be seen quickly, then you may consider private practice.
Private physiotherapists can usually fit you in much faster and offer more flexibility with appointment times. Prices can range from £30 to £70 per session, depending on the clinic, with the UK average being around £40 per session.
The Bottom Line
If your office job is causing niggling pain or worse, then it’s worth booking an appointment with a Physiotherapist. Also, check out our article on 5 tips to help bad posture when working from home, with Marc Holl, Professional Head of Physiotherapy at Nuffield Health.