Did you know that May is National Physiotherapy Month? This month is designed to highlight how physiotherapy can be used to treat a variety of conditions and improve the health and well-being of Canadians. Many people have questions about physiotherapy and this month is a good time to answer some of the more common ones.

• WHAT IS A PHYSIOTHERAPIST? A physiotherapist is a health care professional who focuses on the movement and function of the human body. Physiotherapists specialize in maximizing movement, function and potential. By promoting mobility, physical activity and overall health and wellness, physiotherapists work to improve their clients’ quality of life. Physiotherapists provide preventative and rehabilitation treatment for a variety of mobility issues, injuries and diseases. Recovery and rehabilitation are possibly the most well-known aspects of physiotherapy, but physiotherapists also work to educate and provide advice on disease and injury prevention as well as overall health.
• HOW DO PHYSIOTHERAPISTS WORK? Physiotherapists work with individuals to offer a range of specialized services and treatments. They work in a number of different settings, from private clinics to home care services. Physiotherapists are also often members of health care teams in hospitals, where they help people recover from injuries or surgeries. While individuals can see physiotherapists without a referral from a doctor, many doctors refer patients to physiotherapy services in order to help with pain or mobility issues. Physiotherapists work with people of all ages, from the very young to the senior citizen population and just about everyone in between.
• WHAT DO PHYSIOTHERAPISTS TREAT? Physiotherapists work with a number of different individuals to treat many different conditions, including knee injuries, back pain/back injuries, foot & heel pain, joint pain, workplace injuries, sports injuries, motor vehicle accident injuries, repetitive strain injuries, rheumatoid arthritis, sprains & strains, plantar fasciitis, and much more.
• HOW DO PHYSIOTHERAPISTS TREAT? When you first meet with a physiotherapist, he or she will begin a comprehensive assessment of your health and your particular problem or issue. This will give the physiotherapist the information that he or she needs to design a treatment program that will be effective for you. Treatment will depend on your particular situation and could include massage, joint mobilization & manipulation, personalized exercise programs, range of motion exercises, skin & wound care, compression therapy & orthotics, equipment therapy such as vibration therapy, shockwave therapy and aqua therapy, muscle retraining, balance & coordination, diet & nutrition counselling and many other types of treatment.
• HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU SEE A PHYSIOTHERAPIST? Every patient is unique and every health situation is different. How often you will be expected to visit your physiotherapist and which treatments will be chosen will depend on your situation. During your initial visit, the physiotherapist will provide you with some information on potential treatment plans. After conducting a comprehensive assessment and analysing the information gathered, he or she will be able to give you more concrete details about the length of the process as well as other specific details regarding your treatment.

If you’ve been struggling with pain or a recent injury and would like to see a Physiotherapist, please don’t hesitate to give us a call. Remember, at Physiomed…Healthier Starts Here.