Hello! My name is Ivan and I’m Welo’s first ever Physiotherapist! I graduated with a Bachelors of Physiotherapy from INTI International University where I learned and specialized in Sports and Musculoskeletal rehabilitation. I’ve had the privilege of treating a variety of people ranging from a national weightlifter to office workers. It is my joy to help get my patients out of pain and into function, especially after they’ve been told time and time again that they will never be able to function like how they used to. My love for sports and movement has led me to try many different sports like rock climbing, frisbee, volleyball and badminton. I’ve also tried my hand at Brazilian Ju Jitsu, Muay Thai and even Contemporary Dance in order to understand more aspects of human movement and have fun! My approach to rehabilitation and exercise is to always make it enjoyable while working towards your own specific goals in life, regardless if it is competitive or not. Today’s short read starts us off with knowing what Physiotherapy is and how it can benefit you!
So, do I need Physiotherapy?
I’m sure you’ve heard of Physiotherapy for elderly who have had a fall, or athletes with sports injuries. But how about the rest of us? How do we benefit from a Physiotherapy session? Well, I’m glad that you asked! Since I’ve joined Welo, we have all been committed to encouraging our patients to improve their quality of life with both Chiropractic and Physiotherapy. Throughout this journey, we realise that many people don’t fully understand what happens in a session, or what the purpose behind Physiotherapy is.
The simplest explanation of Physiotherapy is that it is a rehabilitation approach which focuses on muscles moving better, with less pain and more confidence. For those of us who are riddled with constant lower back pain that never seems to go away, chronic neck pain from sitting WAY too long, or even from regular exercising – Physiotherapy helps you too! It helps by finding out your body’s limitations and weaknesses when it comes to certain movements and activities. Instead of waiting until you’re “old” or in pain, it is encouraged to start early to reduce the risk of any disability or pain. The goal is to help you better understand your own body so that you can make right decisions based on what is good for you.
But, why would my body have limitations or weaknesses?
Great question, and not an uncommon one either. Does this mean that our body is weak and fragile? Absolutely not! However, things like daily habits and stresses from our lifestyle does affect our body over time. If these habits are not ideal, our body ends up taking quite the beating. On top of that, when we factor in our leisure activities (exercising in the gym, going for a walk or run, or even just gardening), these added stressors can cause our bodies to go past its breaking point and result in injury. Oftentimes, it’s not just one incident that causes injury but rather a build-up of many different factors.
What then should we do when we’re in pain? The answer is: don’t wait! Don’t wait until the pain gets so severe that you need to see a doctor to get painkillers. It is also important to remember that it is never too late to start seeing a professional for your health.
What can I expect from a Physiotherapy session?
The most important expectation is to leave with a better understanding of your condition, why you’re in pain, and what you need to do moving forward.
That aside, all sessions in Welo typically start with an assessment by our Chiropractors and I. You will first be asked some questions to help us understand you better. After that, we will go through a postural assessment to assess your body positioning. We also go through some special and functional tests to figure out the body’s limitations. Once we have a clear picture of what’s going on, we will take the time to walk you through it so that you can better understand your condition and how certain treatment plans work to improve it! Sometimes, we also refer patients out for additional imaging or to other healthcare professionals if their situation calls for it.
We usually start with treatment straight away. Depending on the severity of your condition, we may adjust how we approach each treatment. As all treatment sessions are personalised to you, they may look different from person to person or session to session. Sometimes, we focus on pain management. Other times, we work to improve body mobility or strengthen weaker muscles. Regardless, we will guide you through them step by step. Treatment options include manual therapy (i.e. massage techniques) and/or modalities (i.e. ultrasound therapy) to reduce pain, corrective exercises to improve your movement quality, and strengthening exercises to improve your body’s capabilities.
In essence, EVERYONE benefits from Physiotherapy. What we encourage is truly understanding your body, your goals, and working towards overall health and wellness instead of just focusing on the pain. If you are interested to try a session and see how it might help you, drop us a WhatsApp at +011-6262-6038 or DM us on Instagram @welochiro!