Geriatric Physiotherapy

What Is Geriatric Physiotherapy?

Geriatric physiotherapy covers a wide area of conditions concerning the elderly. The main goal of geriatric physiotherapy is to enhance and/or maintain their current level of function and independence. 

There are many conditions that affect people as they grow older and they include but are not limited to the following:

• Arthritis (one or more joints)

• Osteoporosis

• Orthopaedics (see below)

• Balance Disorders / Falls Risk

• Parkinson's Disease

• Respiratory Disease/Complications (see Respiratory Page)

• General Joint or Muscular Pain

What Can Physiotherapy Do?

Geriatric physiotherapy generally includes manual therapy and home exercises for elderly adults to improve mobility, balance, build strength, boost confidence in their physical abilities and ideally remain active over the years. This can be especially important after orthopaedic operations such as knee and hip replacements where general function can be significantly impacted.  The most important goal for geriatrics is to be as functional and independent as possible. Doing everyday tasks and living an unconfined life are valuable assets.

Orthopaedic Physiotherapy

What Is Orthopaedics?

Orthopaedics is also known as Orthopaedic surgery (conditions that have resulted in surgery). Orthopaedic surgery is any surgery performed primarily on the musculoskeletal system of the body. Common orthopaedic surgeries you may have heard of include; joint replacements and reconstructions.

Is Pre-Operative Physiotherapy Required?

Pre-operative physiotherapy can help to strengthen a patient physically and cardiovasculary. In the case of a joint operation, physiotherapy can help maintain and improve range of movement prior to surgery and educate the client on their post-operative rehabilitation. This will facilitate the client to recover from surgery at a faster rate. Pre-operative physiotherapy is highly recommended when possible.

Do I Need A Physiotherapist Post-Operation?

It is common to wake up in the hospital a few hours post-operation (knee reconstruction, hip replacement or shoulder reconstruction) and have a hospital-based physiotherapist asking you to get out of bed for the first time. Once you leave the hospital setting what should you do for best recovery after surgery?

The surgeon will give you guidelines and advice (normally with a review weeks or months later) but it's the physiotherapist that will take you step by step through your recovery program. Not one person or surgery is the same, and it is important that you have a tailored program suited to you. The physiotherapist will liaise closely with your surgeon to follow the recommended clinical protocol. 

The treatment goal of the orthopaedic physiotherapist is to provide pain relief, increase joint range, improve strength and flexibility and restore the patient to full function if able (some surgeries have limited outcomes).

Common Orthopaedic Conditions Include:

• Fracture Rehabilitation (surgical and non surgical)

• Surgical Rehabilitation:

  • Joint Replacement

  • Reconstruction (ligament, muscle)

  • Back Surgery (discectomy, spinal fusion)

  • Nerve Release/Oblation

• Scoliosis (surgical and non surgical)

• Arthritic Joints (surgical and non surgical)