08 Dec Physiotherapy Rehabilitates and Improves
Physiotherapists specialise in the diagnosis, management and prevention of movement disorders.
The aim of physiotherapy is to rehabilitate and improve a person’s ability to move and function, and physios use their expertise in anatomy and physiology to assess and treat people with a range of health conditions.
While physios are mostly known for their treatment of sporting injuries and neck and back pain, they also work with premature babies, people recovering from stroke, those with brain or spinal cord damage, and people with conditions like Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, osteoporosis and cystic fibrosis.
What you can expect in a standard physio consultation A ‘typical’ physio session may involve:
Assessing and diagnosing the patient’s condition and needs Working with the patient to set and attain goals Developing a treatment or prevention plan that will take into account lifestyle, activities and general health Prescribing exercise and physical aides if required Source: Australian Physiotherapy Association
Physios use a combination of manual therapy, movement training and physical and electro-physical agents. According to the Australian Physiotherapy Association, a physio “helps repair damage, reduce stiffness and pain, increase mobility and improve quality of life”.
Physiotherapy is an evidence-based clinical health science, and practitioners are required to use treatments only if their effectiveness has been demonstrated in scientific research.
