What Is Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy uses clinical assessment, education, therapeutic exercise and other appropriate treatment techniques to help people improve or maintain physical function. Depending on the presentation, a physiotherapist may assess joint movement, muscle strength, flexibility, balance, gait, coordination, posture and functional activities. The purpose is not simply to address a painful area but to understand how the person's symptoms affect movement and daily life. Physiotherapy may be used as part of recovery after an injury or surgery, or as part of ongoing management for a musculoskeletal or functional condition.
Conditions Commonly Seen in Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy can be relevant to many musculoskeletal and movement-related conditions. Common examples include back pain, backache, muscle strain, muscle spasms, slipped or herniated disc-related symptoms, neck pain and stiffness, whiplash-associated symptoms, shoulder pain, frozen shoulder, rotator cuff problems, shoulder instability, hip pain, hip osteoarthritis, knee pain, runner's knee, patellofemoral pain, meniscus and ligament injuries, ankle sprains, Achilles tendinopathy, plantar heel pain, tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, tendon injuries, sports injuries, balance problems and mobility limitations. Physiotherapy may also form part of rehabilitation before or after orthopedic surgery. These condition names are not diagnoses for an individual; an assessment is needed to determine the likely cause and appropriate management.
What Happens During an Assessment?
An initial assessment generally begins with a discussion about symptoms, medical history, medications or relevant health information, previous injuries, daily activities and treatment goals. The physiotherapist may then examine movement, strength, mobility, balance and functional tasks relevant to the concern. The assessment may help determine whether physiotherapy is appropriate and whether referral to another healthcare professional is advisable. Patients should provide accurate information and tell the physiotherapist about significant changes in symptoms. In some cases, additional medical investigation may be needed before or alongside physiotherapy.
Physiotherapy Treatment Approaches
Depending on the clinical presentation, physiotherapy may include therapeutic exercise, progressive strengthening, mobility exercises, balance and coordination training, gait rehabilitation, movement education, activity modification and manual physiotherapy techniques. Treatment can also include advice about gradually returning to work, exercise, sport or other activities. A home exercise program may be recommended when appropriate. Treatment should be progressed according to the person's response and clinical findings rather than according to a guaranteed timeline. The same treatment is not necessarily suitable for every patient with the same condition.
Rehabilitation and Return to Activity
Rehabilitation often involves gradual progression. Someone recovering from an ankle sprain, for example, may need to regain mobility, strength and balance before returning to running or sport. Someone recovering from surgery may need to follow specific restrictions and milestones established by the surgical or medical team. A person with persistent back or joint pain may require a longer-term exercise and activity plan. Physiotherapy can support these goals, but recovery varies and no responsible clinic should promise a specific result or return-to-activity date without an appropriate clinical basis.
When Medical Assessment May Be Needed
Physiotherapy is not a substitute for emergency or medical care. Depending on the circumstances, urgent assessment may be required for symptoms such as sudden severe weakness, new loss of bladder or bowel control, significant neurological changes, suspected fracture or dislocation, major trauma, unexplained fever with severe symptoms, or other signs of serious illness. The physiotherapist may recommend medical or specialist assessment when the findings fall outside the appropriate scope of physiotherapy management.
Choosing Physiotherapy Care
Patients may wish to ask whether the practitioner is appropriately registered and whether the services offered are within the practitioner's competence and scope of practice. In Canada, professional regulation can vary according to the jurisdiction and profession. The information on this page is general educational information and does not replace an individualized assessment.
This page provides general educational information and is not individualized medical advice. Services are provided only by professionals who are appropriately qualified and authorized, and no particular result or recovery time can be guaranteed. Read the full disclaimer.