Physiotherapy aims to help the patient to heal from their injuries, pain or disability through the movement of their muscles and regular prescribed exercise. Physiotherapists mainly work with musculoskeletal problems but can also treat other issues such as:
- men’s and women’s health (including incontinence)
- recovery after major surgery
- orthopaedics and trauma
- sports
- workplace health
- paediatrics (children)
- care of the elderly
- education and health promotion
- intensive care
- mental health
- neurology (including stroke)
- long-term conditions
- breathing problems
What does Physiotherapy involve?
A Physiotherapist may use a combination of the following methods:
- Recommending regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight. Suggesting to a client what they can do on a daily basis to relieve pain.
- Using both movement and exercise in a treatment plan for the patient to repeat at home. This may include swimming or walking for example.
- Use manual techniques such as using their hands to massage the client’s joints and muscles in order to improve blood circulation, relieve pain and improve movement in that area. This is particularly successful for lower back pain but is also used alongside cancer treatment to relieve the patient of the side effects of the intensive treatment.
Physiotherapists may also advise that other methods are used alongside their treatment of the patient such as acupuncture or ultrasound which is used to treat deep tissue injuries.