The physiotherapists and staff of Buela Physical Therapy Clinic

Mommies, like me do often neglect and disregard  proper posture.  My reason is that I don't mind what other think of my posture, but actually deep inside , I am worried. It is not only to look good but it also reflects my health. Now that I am a working Mom, I think I'll be looking after my posture. At the very least to make me more confident in my work and in facing our clients.

Last week there was an event that I attended which is the grand opening of Buela Physical Theraphy Clinic in Cainta, Rizal and I learned some of the beneficial aspect of physiotheraphy.

From L-R (front): Departement of Tourism USEC Woodrow Maquiling Jr, CEO of Buela Physical Therapy Clinic Corporation Gerald R. Buela, Hon. Judge Liezel A. Aquiatan, and National Polo Team member Eduardo Miguel Lopez. From L-R (back): PBA Players; Jervy Cruz and John Wilson, SEA Games Medalists Edwin Giron and Mark Harry Diones

According to them, Buela, one of the most advanced physical therapy clinics in the country, has opened another branch in the Metro East Area at the Garden Walk Mall in Cainta, Rizal. Buela boasts of cutting edge technology in their clinics using the latest machines in physiotherapy. Coupled with well-trained physiotherapists and in-house medical doctors, Buela offers a complete and holistic approach to physical therapy. 

Here are some of things I learned about Physical Theraphy

There is a notion that physical therapy is only for post-stroke patients or those recovering from accidents, but physical therapy can benefit everyone. This is pain management that aims to fix the root of the problem, dealing with every muscle, sinew, nerve, and bone that causes the major or minor aches that plague daily life, such as back pain, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, scoliosis, to name just a few. Some patients think this is something you have to live with, but relief is possible with physiotherapy. Athletes of all levels can also look to Buela to boost their performance and be more resilient to injuries and to treat muscles that are overused in relation to their sport. 

Gerald Rivera Buela – CEO of Buela Physical Therapy Clinic Corporation. Buela's goal is to make physiotherapy a part of people's healthy lifestyles.

Gerald Buela, CEO of Buela Physical Therapy Clinic and a licensed physiotherapist himself, has a personal mission to raise the level of the profession. “That's my advocacy, to elevate and push the boundaries of what this practice can achieve through technology and physiotherapy.” Buela is elevating the PT (Physical Therapy) industry, by bringing in top of the line machines from abroad. “It's the latest technology so the Philippines doesn’t fall far behind,” he says. ”Most of the Physical Therapy clinics in the Philippines are quite traditional. I want to transform the industry into one of the most advanced in the region.”

All the machines at the Buela clinics are the latest models. The clinic touts an advanced approach using these machines that aid in various therapies: Myofascial Dry Needling, Microcurrent/Macrocurrent Therapy, Deep Radiofrequency Heat Therapy, Vibration Therapy, Manual Therapy (joint mobilization and spinal manipulation), Postural Correction Program, High-Intensity Laser Therapy, Focused Shockwave, Traction Therapy, Tecartherapy. Patients undergo a thorough screening and medical assessment by doctors and therapists to determine which treatment is most beneficial for their areas of concern. 

The Buela PT interiors of slate blue with wood accents may look like a spa, but the clinic utilizes the most advanced tools in physical therapy.

There is a misconception that physical therapists are similar to massage therapists, but physical therapists or physiotherapists are licensed medical professionals whose field of study takes five years. While massage deals with the muscles, physical therapy can go deeper dealing with muscles, bones, and nerves, affecting the totality of the body. “Our promise is to fix your problems one posture at a time,” explains Buela. When you don’t fix the posture, the muscles aren’t activated properly, the pain and discomfort will return. The machines also target tissue at a deeper level that a simple massage cannot reach. “Massages are good for relaxation, but you need physical therapy for pain and discomfort.”

Cost is also something that precludes people from getting the physical therapy that they need, often choosing to pop a pill for the pain. But that solution is temporary, especially for those with chronic pain. People don’t often realize that their health card coverage includes physical therapy, and a visit to the Buela clinic can bring them more lasting relief.

Buela’s sleek and industrial chic interiors of blue gray, wood and steel is aimed at trying to do away with the cold and antiseptic feel of physical rehabilitation clinics, treating it more like going to a spa, gym or an aesthetician, while still getting the level of treatment you would get at the most advanced physical rehabilitation center. “Some of our patients don't do well in hospital settings. Their progress is very minimal, and they don't find the level of pain relief they desire,” explains Buela. Hospitals also don't do certain treatments, like dry needling, a practice whose roots trace back to acupuncture but have now combined with Western research.

Buela has not only invested in machines, he also invested in people. The Buela clinic makes it a special point to design the staff area of the physical therapists to be as nice as the rest of the clinic. This does a lot for staff morale, as the staff room is usually the most neglected part of any establishment. Buela, who worked as a physiotherapist himself, knows the ins and outs of the industry and champions that therapists be treated as professionals. It’s only logical that happier staff can give better service. “I pay them a premium, twice as much as the average. I want physiotherapists to feel ownership of the space and to be comfortably working in that space. Compared to other clinics, we pay them double. I really value our people.”

During the pandemic a lot of lifestyles have become sedentary. The work from home setup, which continues even through a hybrid setup, has resulted in a lot less time for  moving and socializing, often just remaining at your desk for the whole day. This has resulted in a lot of posture problems that result in or compound all manner of bodily aches and pains. “What we want to give to them is freedom from pain,” declares Buela. ”That way you can work more efficiently, have better relationships, and live your best life.”

Buela Physical Therapy Clinic is located at Unit 2R, The Garden Walk, 105 Felix Avenue, Cainta, Rizal.
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