Physiotherapy is generally safe when practiced under the expert eye of a professionally qualified Physiotherapist.

Every condition is different and every patient heals at a different speed. In general, one should attend physiotherapy sessions till they have reached their goal or till the physiotherapist decides it’s time to stop and re-evaluate the progress. Typically, it should take anywhere between 6 to 8 weeks for the tissues and muscles to heal and so the physiotherapy must last that long. Sometimes, your condition may rapidly get better, and you may notice an improvement in pain control, the range of motion, and strength within a few sessions of physical therapy. In such a scenario, you may be required to attend 2-3 sessions more before you are discharged or asked to follow the exercise routine at home. But then again depending upon the severity of your condition and the amount of damage, your physiotherapist might ask you to extend the therapy and continue until you have reached a satisfactory level of progress.

Regular physiotherapy can provide relief to people of all ages suffering from a variety of ailments, injuries or disorders. With the help of high-quality physiotherapy, you can restore your pre-pain physical condition and fitness levels and lead a much active and healthy life. Some of the best-known benefits of physiotherapy include:

• Lasting relief from pain: Multiple aches and pains in the body could be due to a number of reasons. Be it an ankle injury while playing basketball or chronic lower back pain due to sitting for long hours at work; if the pain is affecting your everyday routine and activities, it definitely needs immediate attention. Regular physiotherapy sessions not only help mitigate or even out pain but also reduces dependency on painkillers that could be expensive or prove harmful in the long run.
• Prevention from surgery: While surgery may be unavoidable in certain cases, physiotherapy can help eliminate the need for going under the knife, completely. Using a variety of treatments that include a combination of exercises and therapies, it assists in the elimination of pain from the root, heals injured tissues and facilitates painless & smooth mobility over a period of time. In case you have already undergone surgery, physiotherapy can help you recuperate and recover faster.
• Improved mobility & balance: People who are recovering from a surgery or an injury, can take time to get back on their feet. Mobility can be a challenge and doing everyday chores can become an impossible task. In such cases, physiotherapy can prove to be of great help. It not only helps the body regain its lost muscle strength and improve coordination but also gains mobility to move around safely.
• Manage age-related issues: With age, people tend to develop bones, joints or muscles related complications like osteoporosis and arthritis. To tackle these everyday aches and pains, regular physiotherapy can prove to be advantageous. It can also be opted for if a person has had a knee or hip replacement surgery and is looking to alleviate pain and recover faster.
• Avoid dependency on medicines: While painkillers may provide instant relief from pain, but the effect they can have on your kidneys and liver can prove to be fatal in the long run. Therefore, to address long-term pain issues, physiotherapy is considered to be a safe and more effective alternative to pain control medication.

Your session will be unique, because it is all about you and your particular needs. In general, here’s what happens:

• The physiotherapist learns about your medical history
• The physiotherapist assesses and diagnoses your condition
• You receive a treatment plan that sets goals for you
• You are prescribed a course of exercises and any assistive devices needed

No, you do not require a doctor’s referral to see a physiotherapist. Physios are independent professionals just like dentists or other specialists. You can book an appointment directly with them. This method is known as “self-referral”.

You can also see a physio through your hospitals and doctors. In these cases you will be referred by another health professional.

Think about getting physiotherapy if you have an injury, or chronic pain that affects how you function everyday. Anything to do with your muscles, joints, bones and nerves of the body which may affect you, call us.

Physiotherapists help improve quality of life

Physiotherapists help you get the most out of life. They help you recover from injury, reduce pain and stiffness, increase mobility and prevent further injury. They listen to your needs to tailor a treatment specific to your condition. As first contact practitioners, you don’t need a doctor’s referral to see a physiotherapist. Physiotherapists, doctors, and other health professionals will often work as part of a team to plan and manage treatment for a specific condition.

Physiotherapists are trained to assess your condition, diagnose the problem, and help you understand what’s wrong. Your treatment plan will take into account your lifestyle, activities and general health.

What sort of Treatments Physiotherapists Use?

The following are common treatment methods use by physiotherapists:

• exercise programs to improve mobility and strengthen muscles
• joint manipulation and mobilisation to reduce pain and stiffness
• muscle re-education to improve control
• airway clearance techniques and breathing exercises
• soft tissue mobilisation (massage)
• acupuncture and dry needling
• hydrotherapy
• assistance with use of aids, splints, crutches, walking sticks and wheelchairs to help you move around.

What are the different types of Physiotherapy?

Physiotherapy is more than just musculoskeletal support. Physiotherapists extend their care to chronic health impacts, like heart disease and diabetes, and lesser-known pelvic floor issues. They’re experts in helping to reduce the alarmingly common health and safety issues associated with working in labour intensive industries, preventing injury as well as getting people back to work quickly and safely.

Here are some of the different areas of physiotherapy:

• acupuncture and dry needling
• aquatic
• cancer, palliative care and lymphoedema
• cardiorespiratory
• disability
• emergency department
• gerontology
• mental health
• musculoskeletal
• neurological
• occupational health
• orthopaedic
• paediatric
• pain
• physiotherapy for animals, often working with vets
• sports
• women’s, men’s and pelvic health