The Role of Physiotherapist In Preventive Care

Physical therapy (PT), also known as physiotherapy, is one of the healthcare professions. Physical therapy is provided by physical therapists who promote, maintain, or restore health through physical examination, diagnosis, prognosis, patient education, physical intervention, rehabilitation, disease prevention and health promotion. Physical therapists are known as physiotherapists in many countries. Physical therapy addresses the illnesses or injuries that limit a person's abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives[1]. PTs use an individual's history and physical examination to arrive at a diagnosis and establish a management plan and, when necessary, incorporate the results of laboratory and imaging studies like X-rays, CT-scan, or MRI findings. Electrodiagnostic testing (e.g., electromyograms and nerve conduction velocity testing) may also be used [2]. There are strong recommendations for the intensity and frequency of physical activity that everyone should aim to achieve throughout the lifespan to maintain health. Being active and keeping active are important whether one is young or old, able bodied or disabled, male or female. Physical activity and exercise not only maintain fitness, they also improve mental health. The NICE guidance [3], for professionals in the health service, local authorities and the voluntary sector, focuses on four methods of getting adults to be physically active: (i) Brief interventions – advice delivered by GPs and other nonhospital-based health professionals (ii) Exercise referral schemesreferral to a tailored physical activity programme (iii) Pedometers – use of a device to measure how far you have walked (iv) Walking and cycling schemes.