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What Are Therapeutic Procedures?

Sandra Koehler
Sandra Koehler

When the body fails to function properly, medical professionals typically order diagnostic procedures or testing to determine the cause of any adverse symptoms. Once a cause is identified, therapeutic procedures — medical interventions designed to restore health — can be performed. These techniques are systematic processes backed by extensive research that help the body return to normal. In other words, therapeutic procedures are the various methods of care that help the body to heal so an individual can regain optimal health.

The types of therapeutic procedures applied in any given case are based upon the ailment, injury, or illness causing the body to function below par, and are most effective when an individual’s overall health, including pre-existing medical conditions, is taken into consideration. For example, allergies to certain medications can impede the forward progress of fighting off an infectious disease, especially when allergy-inducing medications are dispensed. This can cause additional health concerns, and in some instances life-threatening conditions.

Some therapeutic specialists work with people who have a restricted range of motion.
Some therapeutic specialists work with people who have a restricted range of motion.

Therapeutic procedures, however, are not limited to the administration of proper medications. These methods may also include holistic approaches in which the goal is to correct an ailment and optimize overall health. An example of this type of therapeutic program can be used in the treatment of cancer patients. In many instances, these include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments, or a combination of any of the three, plus techniques to improve the overall quality of life. This can incorporate such things as psychotherapy and stress management to relieve anxiety, tension, and fears, factors acknowledged to aid in the general decline of overall health.

Occupational therapy can be used to improve fine motor skills.
Occupational therapy can be used to improve fine motor skills.

Therapeutic procedures may also include such things as pain management strategies to help individuals overcome the physical dysfunction often associated with moderate to severe pain issues. Physical therapy is another form of therapeutic procedures that helps individuals regain general function, mobility, and strength. Modalities — the devices used to relieve pain or induce the muscles to contract during physical therapy — can help increase overall movement. Occupational therapy, on the other hand, can assist in the recovery of day-to-day abilities such as fine motor skills.

Occupational therapy can assist a patient in the recovery of day-to-day skills, such as walking.
Occupational therapy can assist a patient in the recovery of day-to-day skills, such as walking.

While some patients require short term treatment with therapeutic procedures, others require long term or ongoing support; duration of treatment is also dependent upon the nature, cause, and general effects of the medical condition affecting the body. Injuries typically require a therapeutic program for a few weeks or several months before normal activities can resume uninhibited. Chronic or long-standing conditions may warrant ongoing or frequent sessions over time when symptoms flair-up.

Discussion Comments

SarahGen

Medications and surgery are definitely not the only therapeutic procedures out there. There are many other therapies that can help. In fact, in some cases, I believe that therapeutic procedures may be even better than more conventional ones.

For example, when it comes to sports injuries, after the initial treatment has been taken care of, I think that exercise and physical therapy is more important.

When I had a back injury, I can't deny that the medications were necessary and extremely helpful. But after the pain and inflammation was gone, my issues persisted. I had soreness, stiffness, I had lost strength. Physical therapy and back exercises came to my rescue. These take a longer time and require persistence to work, but in the long-term, they are more effective than pain relievers.

donasmrs

@discographer-- That depends.

Therapeutic procedures are procedures to treat ailments and restore health. Most vaccines are preventative in nature. So they do not treat anything, they prevent the ailment from occurring in the first place.

But there are also vaccines that are therapeutic, so they are used as part of treatment. For example, there are some therapeutic vaccines used to treat cancer and I think there are some also for illnesses like HIV and AIDS. These are mostly treatments that improve the immune system so that the immune system can fight the illness better.

discographer

Are vaccines considered to be a therapeutic procedure?

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    • Some therapeutic specialists work with people who have a restricted range of motion.
      By: Ambrophoto
      Some therapeutic specialists work with people who have a restricted range of motion.
    • Occupational therapy can be used to improve fine motor skills.
      By: Petro Feketa
      Occupational therapy can be used to improve fine motor skills.
    • Occupational therapy can assist a patient in the recovery of day-to-day skills, such as walking.
      By: goodluz
      Occupational therapy can assist a patient in the recovery of day-to-day skills, such as walking.
    • Occupational therapy may help improve a child's cognitive, physical, sensory, and motor skills.
      By: shootingankauf
      Occupational therapy may help improve a child's cognitive, physical, sensory, and motor skills.
    • Therapeutic procedures may incorporate psychotherapy.
      By: Ambrophoto
      Therapeutic procedures may incorporate psychotherapy.
    • Chemotherapy treatment for cancer is an example of a therapeutic procedure.
      By: Tyler Olson
      Chemotherapy treatment for cancer is an example of a therapeutic procedure.
    • A therapeutic program for a cancer patient may include radiation treatment.
      By: jovannig
      A therapeutic program for a cancer patient may include radiation treatment.