Physiotherapy and You

Movement plays an important role in people's lives. Physiotherapists assist people with movement disorders which may have been present from birth (such as cerebral palsy), acquired through accident or injury (such as motor vehicle accident or sporting injuries), or the result of life-changing major events (such as a stroke or the development of a disease of the nervous system.)

Physiotherapists can help solve and avoid many of the painful problems that you may encounter throughout your life. Whether you are young or old, active or taking it easy, there's a good chance you could benefit from physiotherapy at some point.

Physiotherapy is a professional health care discipline that works closely with physicians and other health care professionals. Physiotherapy uses a variety of techniques to help your muscles and joints work to their full potential. It can help repair damage by speeding up the healing process and reducing pain and stiffness. Physiotherapists also have an important role in rehabilitation, for example, helping people who have had knee joint replacement to regain basic movements and eventually return to normal daily activities.

Human Body

Human bodies can compared to an orchestra. There are many players and instruments involved, and to create beautiful music, a conductor is needed to provide direction and make the whole orchestra work together. Our brain and nervous system are the conductors that give directions to our muscles and enable us to move at our best. When injury and pain occur, however, the messages can get confused and disorganised. The result is that our bodies become "out of tune" and not working well. We need to "retrain" our brains to help us have optimal movement again.

A physiotherapist can help you do just that. They assess your body and movements to find out where the problem is and then give you the guidance and tools needed to retrain and perform your best in all your daily pursuits and activities.

What conditions do physiotherapist treat?

Virtually any condition that affects your muscles, joints, or nerves can be helped by physiotherapy.

Common problems include:

• Back and neck pain, including whiplash injuries
• Painful conditions such as arthritis, headaches or jaw pain
• Sports injuries such as joint/ligament sprain, muscle strain or tears, cartilage injuries
• Problems affecting children including growth pain, scoliosis
• Pregnancy-related symptoms such as back pain and stress incontinence
• Upper limb work-related problems, also know as repetitive strain injury (RSI)
• Rehabilitation after orthopaedic surgeries such as joint reconstruction or replacements, fractures and spinal surgeries
• Dizziness and vertigo
• Asthma and other breathing difficulties