Physiotherapy – Helping You To Help Yourself

Physiotherapy is an established, respected and evidence-based profession, which uses scientifically proven techniques to help many conditions affecting your body, including:

• Spinal and joint conditions such as arthritis
• Post accident treatment and rehabilitation
• Back and neck pain
• Problems affecting children, including cerebral palsy and spina bifida
• Cancer and palliative care
• Pregnancy related problems such as back pain
• Stress incontinence
• Work-related injuries
• Heart and lung conditions such as asthma, obstructive airways diseases (COPD), and other breathing difficulties
• Sports injuries
• Brain injuries (e.g. strokes) and other neurological problems

Physiotherapy - What to Expect?

When you see a physiotherapist, he or she will complete a thorough assessment that may include your health history, evaluation of pain and movement patterns, strength, joint range of motion, reflexes, sensation and cardiorespiratory status.

They will also examine relevant x-rays, laboratory tests, medical records and surgical notes. Based on this assessment, the physiotherapist develops a diagnosis and works in partnership with you to plan individualized goals and treatment programs.

Physiotherapists promote independence , including emphasis on how you can help yourself. For example, you may be shown exercises that you can do between treatment sessions and how to set goals to achieve results. Where appropriate, physiotherapists also advise care-givers on how they can help you.

What Can The Treatment Involve?

Some treatment options:

• Strengthening and therapeutic exercise programmes
• Mobility and flexibility improvement
• Improvements in muscle imbalances and alignment
• Balance retraining and movement coordination
• Manual therapy – intervention to reduce pain and stiffness
• Electrical modalities such as TENS (electrical nerve stimulation) or ultrasound
• Gait retraining and general conditioning regimes
• Acupuncture – some specially trained physiotherapists use this technique to help alleviate your pain

Physiotherapists are primary care practitioners offerring direct access to physiotherapy services without the need for physician referral. It's important to note that some extended health insurance plans require a physician's referral in order to re-imburse you for claims.

In hospitals, physiotherapy may be provided to in-patients or through an out-patient clinic. Many out-patient clinics provide rehabilitation programs for people who have had surgery, are recovering from strokes or heart attacks. Not all hospitals, however, have out-patient physiotherapy programs or programs that can address your specific needs. Check with your local hospital to determine what services are available in your area.

Long-Term Care homes may provide services through an onsite physiotherapist or contract with a local provider. Community services may also provide physiotherapy for individuals in their homes.

Physiotherapy services may also be obtained through private means, where available.