The Role of Physiotherapists in Recovery

They say “if it does not break, then do not fix it” may not be such an appropriate aphorism especially for professionals such as a physiotherapist Singapore. Truly, the role of physiotherapists is indispensable, and with their role and capacities come with the expectation that patients are able to restore their muscle function and movement in no time. The same way medical professionals such as orthopedics and podiatrists possess a certain specialization in the field of human medicine, physiotherapists are aptly concerned with the repair of bodily impairments and muscular immobility through a variety of medically approved and medically tested therapeutic techniques. While in some regions and countries, physiotherapists are bagged as physical therapists, their roles and responsibilities do not significantly differ from one another.

Physiotherapists, aside from repairing bodily impairments and muscular immobility through therapy exercises, are also more concerned with the restoration of function and mobility of compromised body parts. For instance, if one unfortunately gets a stroke and half of the body’s patient becomes desensitized, a physiotherapist’s aim is to get that lost bodily function back. The severity of stroke varies from one patient to another, and by any chance that the stroke got caught early, the physiotherapist’s role may only be concerned with helping the patient get his or her left leg’s function back instead of helping the patient restore both of his or her legs’ function altogether.


Aside from stroke patients, the role of physiotherapists is widely recognized among military personnel. Our modern day heroes not only suffer mental and psychological stress during warfare, but they also experience the worst kind of physical injuries. The physiotherapist’s role not only circles around the implementation of therapeutic exercise, but they also help military patients achieve their balance, increase their range motion (specifically on the arms and the legs) and promote their body mobility. Physiotherapists are also able to know the right massages to restore sensation and flexibility in impaired muscles, and they also know how to apply the right temperature and pressure of compressions on certain body parts to prevent swelling.
Most of all, for military personnel patients who lost a leg during combat, a physiotherapist aids the patient in establishing early mobilization of the amputated area and in implementing specific exercise regimes such as aerobic training for wheelchair use for instance. Aside from placing and changing bandages and pillows on the amputated stump, the physiotherapist is also designated with the role of prescribing sets of range motion exercises to strengthen the patient’s legs and core. These are done slowly by the physiotherapist depending on the current capacity of the patient. It is a careful process that only professional and experienced physiotherapists can do.

Of course, the role of the physiotherapist not only stops with the administration of the hands-on therapeutic treatment. Physiotherapists also communicate with the patient all throughout the session since such adjustments and changes in the body can truly affect one’s mental and psychological aptitude. By balancing psychological, mental and physical readiness of the patient all throughout the session, the role of a physio Singapore truly is indispensable.