Sensory System in Physiotherapy
摘要
The sensory system is essential in physiotherapy practices, facilitating the body’s ability to perceive, process, and respond to external stimuli. The sensory system comprises the somatosensory system (touch, pressure, pain, temperature, and proprioception), as well as the visual, auditory, vestibular, taste, and smell senses. In physiotherapy, evaluating and rehabilitating the sensory system is critical, especially in the treatment of neurological and orthopaedic disorders. A wide range of therapeutic interventions are used to improve balance, movement control, and proprioceptive awareness in patients with sensory disorders. These include sensory training, balance exercises, manual therapy, electrical stimulation, and virtual reality-based therapies. Despite the utilization of sensory rehabilitation in diverse clinical populations, the intricacies of sensory re-management can be multifaceted. Therefore, this entry aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the role of sensation in physiotherapy, the differences between disease populations in sensory rehabilitation, and recommendations for specialist physiotherapists who wish to work in the field of sensation.