What do Physiotherapists do? 

When you first visit a Physiotherapist, as independent professionals, the Physio will make their own assessments and diagnosis of your condition and make clinical decisions that may involve a variety of techniques, such as mobilisation techniques, massage, exercise, ultra-sound or acupuncture to treat your issue.  Just like the doctor would prescribe medication (the use of chemical energy) a Physiotherapist will use movement or exercise to help with pain and improve function (kinetic energy).  

Physiotherapists chose treatments using the best and most up-to-date medical evidence to help you maximise your recovery. Treatments can vary greatly as they are designed specifically for you and it can be anything from hands-on manual treatments and massage, education and advice, postural corrections, strength and conditioning work and rehabilitation. Physiotherapists always treat the whole person not just their condition as such treatment will be individual to you and relevant to your level of function and what you want to get back to doing! 

Physiotherapists are involved in so many aspects of recovery that it can be confusing for people to know what they are getting! Are Physiotherapists like Doctors? Massage Therapists? Chiropractors? Osteopaths? Personal Trainers? Life Coaches? Acupuncturists? Nurses? In truth we are like all these professions in one! We would like to point out that as Physiotherapists we, like Doctors and Nurses, are trained professionals. Many Massage Therapists, Life Coaches, Personal Trainers do not require the same training, nor work in regulated industry and as such their levels of competency can be widely varied.  

Physiotherapists are well equipped to assess and treat many conditions  – sometimes we diagnose and refer on to consultants, sometimes we take you to the gym or give exercises for home, sometimes we give you a massage or manipulate your joints, sometimes we speak to you about your lifestyle and how to be healthier. We work with broken bones, sore backs and necks, sports people, sports injuries, clients who have had a stroke, or fallen and need to improve their balance. Our job is to help and work with EVERYONE with a physical issue to make them get back to normal life, or as normal a life as their condition will allow. 

 What Physiotherapists are great at, regardless of your problem, is getting you functionally better! Helping you to get back to what you WANT to do! We tailor our treatment and advice to your goals and life.