Introduction to Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is one of the common therapies that use exercise, electrical, and physical agents to treat a wide variety of human diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, neurological diseases, as well as psychiatric disorders. In general, physical therapy is usually operated by professionals (physiotherapists) to help improve the physical functions of patients.
Nowadays, a full range of physical therapy technologies, ranging from physical examination, patient diagnosis, physical intervention, to health promotion, have been developed and used in many clinical applications. By using physical examination and diagnosis, a whole package of the management plan, including laboratory and imaging testing, can be developed. For instance, X-rays detection, MRI analysis, and several mechanical devices, like sound waves, have become the preferred methods for physical therapists in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Moreover, physical therapy can also be used to improve the mental health of patients with psychiatric disorders by providing fitness and wellness-oriented projects.
Therapeutic Strategies for Psychiatric Disorders
Physical therapy is a group of physical means that plays an important role in evaluating and treating various human diseases and disorders. In particular, psychiatric disorders have become a topic of growing interest in all age populations. Much effort has been made by clinicians, hospitals, and mental health facilities to improve patients' outcomes.
As a result, batteries of therapeutic strategies, such as pharmaceuticals treatment, psychotherapeutic intervention, as well as physical therapy, have been generated for the treatment of psychiatric disorders both in pre-clinical and clinical trials. The data have suggested that these methods are not always effective and need to be used in combination.
Physical Therapy Interventions for Psychiatric Disorders
In recent studies, researchers have indicated that physical therapy can help to reduce pressure and anxiety and increase social interaction and self-esteem. Up to now, a panel of assays, including electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), computerized cognitive remediation therapy (CCRT), computerized cognitive behavior therapy (CCBT), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and other treatment technologies, have been broadly used to quickly and safely relieve the symptoms of patients, and meet the non-drug treatment needs of patients with different psychiatric disorders. Among them, ECT has been used to achieve the objective of treating psychiatric disorders by giving the patient a muscle relaxant after anesthesia and by stimulating the cerebral cortex with an appropriate amount of pulsed electric current to lead to the widespread discharge of brain cells leading to a series of physiological changes. TMS is a painless, non-invasive treatment that uses electromagnetic induction to produce a weak electric current in specific areas of the brain.
Besides, many of the world's leading examination technologies, including infrared thermography (IR), heart rate variability (HRV), and brain fluctuation graphs, have been regarded as standard auxiliary examination methods in treating psychiatric disorders. The results have demonstrated that these methods are accurate and reliable examination strategies with high safety, no adverse reactions, and no trauma in clinical use.
For Research Use Only.
