Glebe Hill Family Practice

What is Physiotherapy?

Physiotherapy is a specialist allied health profession that takes a whole person approach to health and well-being. It is a treatment methodology that focusses on the science of movement and helps people restore, maintain and maximize their physical strength, function, motion and overall well-being. The profession helps to maintain health for people of all ages and encompasses rehabilitation, injury prevention and health promotion. Patient involvement in their own care through education, awareness, empowerment and participation in their treatment is at the core. Physiotherapy extends from acute care, rehabilitation, injury prevention and health promotion to maintenance of functional mobility, chronic disease management, patient and carer education and occupational health.

What is a Physiotherapist?

Physiotherapists are highly qualified health professionals who help you get the most out of life by working in partnership with you to get better and stay well. They help you recover from injury, repair damage, reduce pain and stiffness, increase mobility and prevent further injury to improve quality of life.

Physiotherapists help people affected by injury, illness or disability through movement and exercise, manual therapy, education and advice. Using advanced techniques and evidenced based care they assess, diagnose, treat and prevent a wide range of health conditions and movement disorders. They listen to your needs to tailor a treatment specific to your condition.

As first contact practitioners, you don’t need a doctor’s referral to see a physiotherapist. However, they often work as part of a team with doctors and other health professionals to plan and manage treatment for a specific condition.

What conditions do Physiotherapists treat?

Physiotherapist treat a wide variety of conditions depending on the area they work in. Some of the common conditions treated are:

• Acute and chronic low back and neck pain
• Joint injuries such as knee, ankle and shoulder strains and pain.
• Rehabilitation after fractures
• Pre and Post joint surgery and replacements
• Arthritis management
• Neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, MS and post stroke
• Cardiorespiratory conditions
• Lymphoedema
• Occupational injuries
• Balance disorders

Physiotherapists also provide screening and biomechanical and postural assessments and treatments to correct problems and improve function. They provide advice and strategies on injury prevention and how to improve health and well being as well as sporting performance.