Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy helps to restore movement and function when someone is affected by injury, illness or disability. It can also help to reduce your risk of injury or illness in the future. It takes a holistic approach that involves the patient directly in their own care.

The aim of physical therapy is to relieve pain, help you move better or strengthen weakened muscles.

By 1851, the term physiotherapy was coined, in both the German and the English versions. Overtime, the word evolved from its respective languages to physical therapy. In the early 20th Century, approaches in physical therapy were used to evaluate muscle function in patients suffering from polio in the United States

When is physiotherapy used?

hysiotherapy can be helpful for people of all ages with a wide range of health conditions, including problems affecting the:

• bones, joints and soft tissue – such as back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain and sports injuries
• brain or nervous system – such as movement problems resulting from a stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS) or Parkinson's disease
• heart and circulation – such as rehabilitation after a heart attack
• lungs and breathing – such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis

Physiotherapy can improve your physical activity while helping you to prevent further injuries.

Physiotherapists

Physiotherapy is provided by specially trained and regulated practitioners called physiotherapists.