Medical therapy and their uses

25^th February 2020

The editorial unit

The editorial unit

25 February 2020

With the major developments in the field of medicine, many types of therapies have emerged. It is not about prescribing medications anymore. There are new branches of therapy that have proven effective in treating different illnesses and injuries. Therefore, patients now have more options than ever to choose from. 

So, if you are interested in learning more about such options, read on to find out. 

Traditional medical therapy

Without a doubt, traditional medical therapy is indispensable despite all the other types of therapy that have recently gained momentum. Traditional medical therapy refers to the prescription of medications to treat an underlying medical condition or manage its symptoms. This branch includes other sub-disciplines, which are:

Infusion therapy

This type of therapy focuses on administering medications using IVs. These medications include antibiotics and chemotherapy. So, cancer patients, in particular, can benefit from this type immensely.

Respiratory therapy

This branch focuses on pulmonary and heart conditions. So, people who are suffering from punctured lungs or any cardiac conditions can resort to this type of therapy. It can also include a surgical intervention to treat the issue or make it manageable. The most important aspect of traditional medical therapy is that it involves drugs. However, this is not always a bad thing. Although some drugs have side effects or are just borderline addictive, getting the right dosage can fix some health issues. In some cases, like cancer and cardiac conditions, traditional medical therapy is the only effective treatment option.

Complementary therapy

Because some people do not like taking medications or undergoing an invasive surgical operation, there are other treatment options out there. Complementary therapy refers to the collection of therapy options that are used alongside traditional medical therapy. There are many sub-divisions of complementary therapy, including the following:

Cryotherapy

It literally means “cold therapy” because it uses freezing temperatures to treat chronic pain that results from accidents and injuries. It can also treat some skin conditions, as it gets rid of diseased tissue. However, some temperature based treatments are only effective within 24-72 hours of sustaining an injury. After this window, they may not be effective at treating chronic pain and can even worsen your condition. So, you need to enlist the help of a professional.

Chiropractic therapy

It involves manipulating the alignment of your spine, and doing so can help your body heal without any surgical interference or medications. Most people who resort to chiropractic therapy experience relief from back and joint aches. So, this is a good option for people who sustained injuries due to accidents.

Acupuncture

As an ancient Chinese treatment option, acupuncture is based on the concept of inserting thin needles in problem areas to treat a variety of illnesses or to simply relieve pain. Inserting such needles can also improve the flow of blood to tissues.

Speech therapy

Contrary to popular belief, speech therapy is not only reserved for children with speech problems. It can also be beneficial for patients who have experienced a stroke or other brain conditions that might affect their speech. For example, aphasia, a common result of a stroke, can impair patients’ speech capabilities. On the other hand, speech therapy can also help children who have articulation problems, meaning that they mix sounds or swap them. It can also help people who have fluency issues by eliminating stuttering and other similar problems. Moreover, speech therapy aids in restoring the function of speech muscles that might have been affected by trauma or injuries.

Physical therapy

Physical therapy has been a respected medical field for decades, as it helps cure many physical ailments. Of course, there are several sub-branches of physical therapy, and they include:

Pediatric physical therapy

This branch focuses on helping teenagers and children by eliminating any skeletal or muscular problems. This branch is of utmost importance because it can prevent such issues from affecting patients’ lives later on when they are older.

Geriatric physical therapy

It aims at improving elderly people’s lives by eliminating the risk of injuries and helping them use their muscles more effectively. 

Neurological physical therapy

As conditions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, strokes, and sclerosis can impact the nervous system, neurological physical therapy refers to alleviating these symptoms and helping patients regain movement.

Medical therapy is a broad term that involves many disciplines. Traditional therapy, complementary therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, and so on can all be effective options. For people who suffer from psychological disorders or trauma, there is also psychotherapy. So, based on the condition you are suffering from, consult your doctor, and they will recommend the type of therapy that suits your particular case.

The editorial unti