The Difference Between Physiotherapy And Bowen Therapy
Physiotherapy
Documents suggest Physiotherapy originated in Sweden, by
Per Henrick Ling back in 1813 and is often used to repair injury, recover from surgery and speed rehabilitation. Physiotherapy predominantly focusues on the muscular system in the body, strengthening and stretching muscels, and increasing flexibility in the joints. Physiotherapy usually involves the therapist assessing the patient to best decide what action to take to increase the movement in that area again. Sometimes Physiotherapists will use tools, like
- Spinal Decompression Systems,
- Ice
- Heat
- Ultrasound
- High-intensity electromagnetic fields
- Laser Therapy
- Magnotherapy
- Targeted Radio Frequency
- Continuous Passive Motion (CPM) devices
- Ultrasound devices
- Electrotherapy
- Shortwave Diathermy
- Traction therapy
- Heat therapy
- Mechanical Rehabilitation devices
- Often patients will be given exercises to do at home to speed their recovery
Bowen Therapy
Originating from Australia, Bowen Therapy is the ’new kid on the block’ having only been taught since the late 1980’s after Tom Bowen’s death, however, it is now hailed the most exciting modality in the world.
Bowen Therapists do not use any tools other than their hands. Treating similar conditions to Physiotherapy Bowen therapy is a hands-on therapy working on precise muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and predominately fascia. The very gentle rolling action of the Bowen technique stimulates a neurological response, producing almost immediate changes in tissue tension to the targeted area.
Bowen therapy is NOT a massage! Bowen Therapy is non-manipulative and differs from other better know pain management therapies due it’s gentleness, minimal intervention, and most importantly for many, it’s cost effectiveness owing to the the speed it can work. There is a common misconception that our skeleton influences our alignment, and the only way to straighten any misalignment is by addressing the structural issues. This is not the case. Imagine your skeleton like a suspension bridge, and your muscles and soft tissue the suspension ropes. Everything is in harmony as long as the suspension ropes are held in perfect tension with each other. If one or more of these ropes (your muscles and soft tissue) were to be tightened, then the structure (your skeleton) would be affected. This in effect will cause pulling on other muscles attached to the structure resulting in aches, pains and even non-muscular related health conditions elsewhere in the body, NOT only in the location of heightened tension. Our bodies work and function as a whole, with each system working alongside each other to create a state of homeostasis (anatomical balance). A Bowen Therapists’ goal is to find the problematic tissue, and encourage it to go back to its original state by using a very gentle stimulus. Pauses allow time to observe if the tissue was tight, or was being tightened (pulled) from an area of tension elsewhere within the muscular system.. These problematic areas are often found to be further away from the symptom and this is why it is important that Bowen Therapists see the body as a whole unit, not separated into segmented parts which we as the human race have done For example, many suffer from back pain and even plantar fasciitis (pains on the soles of feet) due to tight neck muscles from looking down too much or even from teeth grinding in their sleep. This tension (pulling on the suspension ropes), pull on the parts of the skeleton (the structure) it is attached to, which will ultimately pull on the structure next door, and so on and so on. With all this in mind, do not be surprised when you visit us with say knee problems when your therapist becomes very interested in your back or neck. By treating your symptoms and not just your diagnosed condition a Bowen Therapist assesses your body as a whole. These skills allow us to identify where the underlying abnormal tissue is located which could be causing your symptoms. This tissue may be far from the site of pain and may well have been overlooked during other therapies you may have experienced. The Bowen Technique therefore aims to bring more permanent results, not just a temporary quick fix. A typical patient of My Bowen Therapy only requires 4 sessions over a 3 to 5 week period. Having over 120 social media reviews and a 4.8 star out of 5-star rating we are KL’s most highly reviewed pain relief center.
