Physiotherapy helps restore movement and function when someone is affected by injury, illness or disability.
Physiotherapists help people affected by injury, illness or disability through movement and exercise, manual therapy, education and advice.
They maintain health for people of all ages, helping patients to manage pain and prevent disease. At the core is the patient’s involvement in their own care, through education, awareness, empowerment and participation in their treatment.
You can benefit from physiotherapy at any time in your life. Physiotherapy helps with back pain or sudden injury, managing long-term medical condition such as asthma, and in preparing for childbirth or a sporting event.
Physiotherapy is a degree-based healthcare profession. Physios use their knowledge and skills to improve a range of conditions associated with different systems of the body, such as:
Neurological (stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's)
Neuromusculoskeletal (back pain, whiplash associated disorder, sports injuries, arthritis)
Cardiovascular (chronic heart disease, rehabilitation after heart attack)
Respiratory (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis).
Physiotherapists work in a variety of specialisms in health and social care. Additionally, some physiotherapists are involved in education, research and service management.
There are well over 20 different treatment approaches commonly used by your physiotherapist
In fact, your physiotherapist has training that includes techniques used by most hands-on professions such as chiropractors, osteopaths, massage therapists, and kinesiologists.
Your physiotherapist is a highly skilled professional who utilises strapping and taping techniques to prevent injuries.
Some physiotherapists are also skilled in the use of kinesiology taping.
Many physiotherapists have acquired additional training in the field of acupuncture and dry needling to assist pain relief and muscle function.
Physiotherapists have been trained in the use of exercise therapy to strengthen your muscles and improve your function. Physiotherapy exercises have been scientifically proven to be one of the most effective ways that you can solve or prevent pain and injury.
Your physiotherapist is an expert in the prescription of the "best exercises" for you and the most appropriate "exercise dose" for you depending on your rehabilitation status. Your physiotherapist will incorporate essential components of pilates, yoga and exercise physiology to provide you with the best result.
They may even use Real-Time Ultrasound Physiotherapy so that you can watch your muscles contract on a screen as you correctly retrain them.
Biomechanical assessment, observation and diagnostic skills are paramount to the best treatment.
Your physiotherapist is a highly skilled health professional with superb diagnostic skills to detect and ultimately avoid musculoskeletal and sports injuries. Poor technique or posture is one of the most common sources of repeat injury.
Sports physio requires an extra level of knowledge and physiotherapy skill to assist injury recovery, prevent injury and improve performance. For the best advice, consult a Sports Physiotherapist.
Not only can your physiotherapist assist you at sport, they can also assist you at work. Ergonomics looks at the best postures and workstation set up for your body at work. Whether it be lifting technique improvement, education programs or workstation setups, your physiotherapist can help you.
