o understand the positive influences of physiotherapy on specific diseases, it’s helpful to look at the strategies used for each condition. Physiotherapy tailors its approach to directly address the unique symptoms and limitations of different diseases.

1. Arthritis

Strategy: The primary goal for arthritis is to manage pain and maintain joint function without causing further damage.

• Pain Management: Therapists use heat or cold therapy to soothe swollen, painful joints. Aquatic therapy is highly effective as the warm water reduces pain and the buoyancy lessens stress on the joints, allowing for easier movement.
• Strengthening and Flexibility: Physiotherapists prescribe low-impact, graded exercises to build muscle strength around the affected joints. This provides better support and stability. They also use gentle stretching exercises to improve the range of motion and prevent stiffness, helping to maintain an active lifestyle.
• Patient Education: Patients are taught joint protection techniques and how to use assistive devices like splints or braces to reduce strain on the joints during daily activities.

2. Stroke

Strategy: Following a stroke, the focus is on re-establishing the brain-to-muscle connection and restoring lost function and mobility.

• Motor Control Retraining: Therapists guide patients through repetitive, task-specific exercises (e.g., reaching for an object, standing up from a chair). This helps the brain relearn and reorganize the pathways for movement.
• Balance and Mobility Training: Exercises are designed to improve balance and coordination, which are often affected by a stroke. This can involve walking on different surfaces or using balance balls to help patients regain confidence and reduce the risk of falls.
• Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT): For patients with weakness on one side of the body, CIMT involves restraining the unaffected limb to force the use of the weaker one. This intensive practice helps to improve function in the affected limb.

3. Chronic Low Back Pain

Strategy: The treatment for low back pain moves beyond just relieving pain to teaching patients how to properly use and strengthen their back to prevent future episodes.

• Core Strengthening: A key strategy is building core stability through exercises that target the abdominal, back, and gluteal muscles. A strong core acts as a natural support system for the spine, significantly reducing stress on the back.
• Flexibility and Posture: Therapists use specific stretches to improve flexibility in the hips, hamstrings, and lower back, which can contribute to back pain. They also provide detailed instruction on ergonomics and posture, teaching patients how to sit, stand, and lift correctly to protect their spine.
• Manual Therapy: Hands-on techniques like spinal manipulation or massage are used to decrease muscle tension and improve spinal movement.

4. Parkinson’s Disease

Strategy: Physiotherapy for Parkinson’s disease focuses on slowing the progression of motor symptoms and improving functional independence.

• Gait and Balance Training: Therapists use exercises to address the shuffling gait and balance issues common with Parkinson’s. This includes practicing bigger, more deliberate steps and using visual or auditory cues (like a metronome) to improve walking rhythm.
• Flexibility and Strength: Regular stretching helps combat the rigidity and stiffness associated with the disease. Strength training helps to maintain muscle mass and power, which can be affected by the condition.
• Activity-Based Therapy: Patients are encouraged to engage in activities like tai chi or dance, which have been shown to improve motor skills, balance, and quality of life. The focus is on purposeful, large-amplitude movements to counteract the small, restricted movements caused by the disease.