Why see a physiotherapist? Here are 10 reasons

Due to the heightened risk of injury, many athletes seek out physiotherapy on a regular basis. Sports injuries often involve the musculoskeletal system, which makes physio a prime mode of treatment. Regular physiotherapy can help increase your range of motion, which can reduce the likelihood of future injuries and empowers you to perform at your best.

Similarly, physiotherapy can also help rehabilitate your body from other accidental injuries such as sprains, fractures and soft tissue injuries sustained in day-to-day life. In these cases, it can help speed up the healing process and prevent injuries from flaring up again in the future.

Contrary to popular belief, pain, stiffness and deteriorating mobility are not normal parts of ageing. However, these problems are quite common due to the repetitive nature of many jobs, whether you’re an athlete, labourer or office worker.

Your physiotherapist will use specific exercises to safely move your body’s joints and soft tissues to gradually stretch the muscles to expand your range of motion and improve your mobility over time. This is usually done over a period of several sessions, combined with prescribed at-home exercises.

There’s no denying that car accidents can be a scary, stressful and often confusing ordeal. The road to recovery can seem long and gruelling, and it can be difficult to map out the steps you need to take. That’s why it’s important to get started with your motor vehicle accident therapy as quickly as possible.

However, there are a variety of physiotherapy treatments that specifically target MVA injuries and quickly get you back on track. These can include whiplash, sprains, strains, and other head and spinal injuries.

In some cases involving the spine, it may be more appropriate to see a chiropractor. During your consultation, your physiotherapist will determine whether your injury would be better treated with physio or chiro, and will be happy to make the appropriate referrals.

During pregnancy and childbirth, a mother’s body goes through many changes and a great deal of stress. Many expectant and new mothers opt for a personal trainer to help their bodies recover.

Your physiotherapist’s knowledge of the effects on the muscles, ligaments, and joints gives them a comprehensive understanding of what’s appropriate in the early months after having a baby. A physiotherapist specialising in women’s health can also treat issues like incontinence that sometimes occurs after childbirth. Incontinence can be caused by the weakening of the pelvic floor, bladder or bowel muscles.

Your physiotherapist will help you develop a postpartum plan to safely increase your activity, strengthen areas that have been stretched or weakened during pregnancy, and even help lose that “baby weight”.

Whether it’s recurring dull pain or lingering acute pain, if you’re living with chronic pain that persists for more than a few days, it may be time to consult a professional.

Pain is usually a sign that there could be an underlying issue that needs to be addressed. This is especially common with neck pain, which is often caused by bad posture. A physiotherapist can diagnose these issues and lay out a comprehensive and ongoing treatment plan to relieve the pain and prevent it from recurring.

If you’re struggling to manage your weight, physiotherapy can help you identify potential problem areas that are limiting your weight loss. You could also be experiencing undue pain or a limited range of motion that kills your motivation to lead the healthy lifestyle you want.

At its core, physiotherapy promotes physical health through an active lifestyle. Combined with the right diet, physio can help you meet and maintain your weight loss goals through an individualised treatment plan tailored specifically to you and your body.

At least 50% of Canadians are living with a chronic disease such as hypertension, emphysema, diabetes, Parkinson’s, ALS, arthritis, or obesity. Studies have shown that physiotherapy can aid in preventing, treating and managing these conditions.

Physio treatments for these diseases could be anything from developing a safe exercise regimen to mitigate symptoms from home, to direct pain management treatments like electrotherapy, heat therapy, and muscular manipulation.

So, if you have a chronic disease, it may help to see your physiotherapist regularly to manage the symptoms and prevent them from returning.

The success of your surgery is partially determined by what you do after your operation. In order to fully regain your strength, flexibility, and motor functions, you will likely be prescribed a physiotherapy regimen to follow in the weeks and months following your procedure, with frequent check-ins to monitor your progress.

Our physiotherapists are specially trained in post-operative care. Before you leave the hospital, you might be provided with some simple exercises to minimise the chance of chest infection or blood clots, or maybe some early strengthening or range of motion exercises.

Physiotherapy is a crucial component of the post-surgical recovery process. Your therapist will create a custom post-operative treatment plan to help you bounce back quicker and return to your regular activities.

Dizziness, vertigo, and balance issues are often indicative of other problems that can be treated with physiotherapy. Physio can address common sources of dizziness, such as problems with the ear’s vestibular apparatus as well as cervical spinal dysfunction.

In rare cases, dizziness can be an indicator of serious medical issues. If you’re experiencing these symptoms, you should always consult a physician before beginning physiotherapy. Once they have ruled out serious issues like a stroke or heart attack, you can ask whether physiotherapy would be a viable treatment route.