What is kinesiotherapy?

Sports enthusiasts, those concerned about taking care of the mind, as well as experts in nutrition, physical exercise and mental health, seem to agree on the importance of taking care of the body and mind to achieve an optimal quality of life.

In the case of physical wellbeing, the combination of a balanced diet and an exercise routine seem to be two of the keys to achieving this, as long as it is done correctly or accompanied by professionals.

Disciplines such as physiotherapy, which can be studied at the Universidad Europea through the Degree in Physiotherapy in Madrid, help to prevent possible injuries or cure them if they already exist. In addition, over the last few years, the implementation of these disciplines within treatment plans has increased more and more, which we will explain in more depth below.

Definition of kinesiotherapy

Kinesiotherapy is a practice that forms part of the discipline of physiotherapy (find out about career paths in physiotherapy if you are interested in working in this important branch of health).

Physiotherapy is a therapeutic alternative to drugs that serves to diagnose, prevent and treat symptoms of multiple ailments through therapeutic exercise using heat, cold, light and water techniques, among others.

Kinesiotherapy, on the other hand, deals exclusively with treating injuries and illnesses through movement. The origin of the word comes from the word "kinesis", which means movement, and the suffix -therapy, so its etymological meaning is literally "movement therapy".

There are different types of kinesiotherapy, although, in general, this discipline is mainly characterised by the use of a series of different movements and techniques based on force or the use of apparatus and implements to improve the patient's health.

What types of kinesiotherapy exist?

As mentioned above, there are several types of kinesiotherapy. Each uses different treatments in order to achieve different goals. Depending on its purpose, kinesiotherapy can be divided into two variants:

• Preventive kinesiotherapy: to prevent injuries or problems.
• Curative kinesiotherapy: when the treatment is used to cure an existing injury or illness.

A different classification is given by the patient's attitude towards the treatment:

• Active: this is when the patient performs the movements him/herself. Within active kinesitherapy, we can find two other branches:
• Active assisted: the movement is carried out with the help of a professional.
• Free or resisted active: occurs when the movement is performed against resistance, for example, against an instrument such as an elastic band.
• Passive: occurs when the patient does not perform the movements voluntarily and they occur through twisting, bending, pressing or pulling by a professional.

Methods of application of kinesiotherapy

In addition to those already mentioned, there is another classification within kinesiotherapy which is based on the methods of application, and which is differentiated into the following three variants:

• Relaxed kinesiotherapy: maintains articular routes, limiting itself exclusively to the physiological or pathological field of the patient.
• Forced kinesiotherapy: occurs when the movement is carried out beyond the joint pathway for a specific time.
• Self-passive kinesiotherapy: the patient is responsible for provoking the extreme force in those body segments that are accessible to him/her.

What is kinesiotherapy used for?

Kinesiotherapy exercises aim to improve the overall health of muscles and joints by stretching and strengthening them. These exercises are scientifically based and can be adapted to improve strength, endurance and mobility for people with muscle injuries.

The use of kinesiotherapy can have a number of objectives, including:

• Maintaining the patient's functional ability.
• Restore range of motion.
• Avoid joint stiffness.
• Improve muscle response.

Benefits of kinesiotherapy

The benefits of using kinesiotherapy are many and varied. You can see a list of the most important ones below:

• Decreases joint and muscle pain and stiffness.
• Strengthens the musculature.
• Eliminates minor pain and tension, stimulating relaxation.
• Improves the elasticity of the muscles.
• Contributes to better stress and anxiety management.
• Helps recovery after high intensity exercise.
• Improves motor skills, coordination and body posture.
• Relieves lack of energy.

Kinesiotherapy is a very useful and simple technique to prevent injuries or treat those that have been caused by an accident or illness. If we take care of our body, we will have a better quality of life and greater well-being.  A simple way to achieve this is to count on the help of professionals with training in a degree in Physiotherapy or something similar such as a degree in Sport Science.  Let them advise you and you will soon notice the benefits of leading a healthier life.