What conditions can a physiotherapist help with?

Every week we receive this question and it does seem that there is a misconception of what a Physiotherapist can do.  In short, if you have an injury or a pain that is in a muscle, tendon, ligament or nerve, a Physiotherapist can help!

Physiotherapists are university-qualified health professionals who see and treat these conditions on a daily basis. Musculoskeletal function is our area of focus. Here is what the Australian Physiotherapy Association (of which we are a member) says that physiotherapy is useful for.

All Australians can benefit from physiotherapy at some point in their lives.  While it is well-known that Physiotherapists treat injuries, increasing numbers of Australians are coming to Physiotherapists when they want to take control of their health and stay well.

Some of the needs Physiotherapists address include:

• Musculoskeletal – prevents and treats clients with musculoskeletal conditions such as back, neck, knee, hip and shoulder pain just to name a few. Techniques include addressing underlying problems, preventing strain and injury, and prescribing exercises and other interventions to promote mobility.

• Pain – manages or prevents pain and its impact on function in patients using a psychologically informed and interdisciplinary approach. Physiotherapists work with other health and social-care professionals to manage pain at the acute stage of an injury or condition, including through identifying psychosocial risk factors that may lead to chronicity.
• Sports – prevents, diagnoses and treats musculoskeletal and sporting injuries among all types of people, from professional athletes to everyday Australians.
  Acupuncture and dry needling – which helps to manage both chronic and acute conditions such as sprains and strains, spinal dysfunction, arthritis and neurological conditions.

• Cardiorespiratory – prevents, rehabilitates and supports people living with, or at risk of diseases and injuries affecting the heart and lungs, such as heart disease or asthma. Physiotherapists help patients prepare for or recover from surgery, and prescribe exercises and other interventions to improve quality of life.
• Cancer, palliative care and lymphoedema – addresses a range of patient needs, including treating, managing or preventing fatigue, pain, muscle and joint stiffness, and deconditioning.
• Continence and women’s health – manages and prevents incontinence and pelvic floor dysfunction in men, women and children. Physiotherapists work in areas including pregnancy, birth, post-partum care, breastfeeding, menopause, bedwetting, prolapse, loss of bladder or bowel control, and with men living with or recovering from prostate cancer.
• Supporting older Australians – uses evidence-based care to promote healthy and active ageing among older Australians. Working in home and residential aged care settings, physiotherapists help manage or prevent the effects of conditions or risks such as osteoporosis, incontinence and falls.
• Neurology – promotes movement and quality of life in patients who have had severe brain or spinal cord damage from trauma, or who suffer from neurological diseases such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
• Orthopaedic – helps patients prevent or manage acute or chronic orthopaedic conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and amputations. Physiotherapists also help patients prepare for or rehabilitate from orthopaedic surgery, or another orthopaedic hospital admissions.
• Occupational health – supports the health and wellbeing of workers, reduces safety risks in the workplace, prevents and manages injuries and diseases, and support workers in returning to work.
• Paediatric (supporting infants and children) – aims to prevent conditions such as plagiocephally (misshapen head) or support a child’s development such as addressing milestone delays with sitting and walking, clumsiness, or hyperactivity.
• Aquatic – using a pool, physiotherapists treat patients with a multitude of conditions using hydrotherapy including sports injuries, post-operative and orthopaedic conditions, spinal pain and/or injuries and arthritis. Aquatic physiotherapy is popular for aged care.

Many Physiotherapists have areas of focus. Here at Trained Physio & Fitness, we are very interested in sports injuries, rehabilitation and injury prevention.

Short Answer – NO

Longer answer – Physiotherapists treat muscle pain and injuries on a daily basis and take a proactive response to treating them.  If you hurt your back, have sore shoulders or even suffer from sever headaches, you can book an appointment directly with your Physiotherapist rather than going through your GP for a referral. We can examine, diagnose and treat all sorts of musculoskeletal issues.  If you are in need of further scans, we can also write referrals for additional scans, x-rays or MRIs.Are you suffering from pain or discomfort? Have you suffered from a sports related injury which has left you out of action, unable to exercise or train? Take advantage of our GAP FREE Injury Assessment for all Private Health Members which includes a thorough assessment of your pain or injuries by a Qualified Physiotherapist and best of all it wont cost you a thing! CLICK HERE TO BOOK NOW!