Physiotherapists use hands-on techniques like soft tissue massage, joint mobilisations, neural tissue mobilisations and electrotherapy to manage a wide range of conditions and injuries. Physiotherapists in Australia are registered health professionals with Medicare, DVA, Private health funds, etc.
What does a physiotherapist do?
Physiotherapists help those affected by injury, illness, or disability, restore their physical function like movement, strength, and endurance. They also help individuals to reduce their risk of injury and prevent future problems.
What qualifications do you need to be a physiotherapist?
A physiotherapy course is a 4-year university degree offered by most of the bigger universities in Australia
What conditions can physiotherapy treat?
- Sport injuries
- Back and neck pain and injuries
- Nerve pain like sciatica
- Headaches
- Postural imbalances
- Joint pain and stiffness
- Muscle spasms and sprains
- Overuse injuries like Tennis elbow and Plantar Fasciitis
- Wounds and scars
- Post surgical conditions
- Cardio respiratory illnesses like COPD
- Balance disturbances like Vertigo
- Neurological conditions like strokes and Parkinson’s disease
- Work related injuries
- Women’s Health
How quickly does physiotherapy work?
For acute, minor conditions it usually takes 2-3 sessions over 2-3 weeks.
For subacute and bigger injuries, the healing time is around 6-8 weeks.
Chronic and serious conditions can take as long as 3-6 months to heal.
Catastrophic injuries and some neurological conditions have a much longer timeframe for recovery, and it can take between 18-24 months to reach maximum function.
Does physiotherapy really work?
There is a mountain of studies that show that physiotherapy is the most effective treatment for most musculoskeletal conditions and an invaluable adjunct to medical management of many other conditions.
What can I expect at a physiotherapy appointment?
At your initial appointment the physiotherapist will assess you and may require you to do some tasks or movements to determine what your limitations and the origin of your problem might be. Your physiotherapist might also touch your skin to feel how the muscles and joints in the area are feeling or behaving during movement. You might also have some treatment done during your first visit. With you follow up appointment there will be a quick assessment to see whether you have improved or deteriorated since the last session and how treatment might have to be adapted. You will receive treatment and will then be reassessed to see whether the treatment techniques were successful. You might also be given a home exercise program to help you improve quicker.
Do you have to take your clothes off for physiotherapy?
The physiotherapist might ask you to take some of your clothing off to assess and/or treat the problem area. This is always done with your consent and the physiotherapist will always be sensitive to your modesty. It is good to wear loose clothing that you can move in when going to your physiotherapy appointment.
Does physiotherapy hurt?
Physiotherapists use hands-on techniques like soft tissue massage, joint mobilisations, neural tissue mobilisations and electrotherapy to manage a wide range of conditions and injuries. Physiotherapists in Australia are registered health professionals with Medicare, DVA, Private health funds, etc.
What does a physiotherapist do?
Physiotherapists help those affected by injury, illness, or disability, restore their physical function like movement, strength, and endurance. They also help individuals to reduce their risk of injury and prevent future problems.
What qualifications do you need to be a physiotherapist?
A physiotherapy course is a 4-year university degree offered by most of the bigger universities in Australia
What conditions can physiotherapy treat?
- Sport injuries
- Back and neck pain and injuries
- Nerve pain like sciatica
- Headaches
- Postural imbalances
- Joint pain and stiffness
- Muscle spasms and sprains
- Overuse injuries like Tennis elbow and Plantar Fasciitis
- Wounds and scars
- Post surgical conditions
- Cardio respiratory illnesses like COPD
- Balance disturbances like Vertigo
- Neurological conditions like strokes and Parkinson’s disease
- Work related injuries
- Women’s Health
How quickly does physiotherapy work?
For acute, minor conditions it usually takes 2-3 sessions over 2-3 weeks.
For subacute and bigger injuries, the healing time is around 6-8 weeks.
Chronic and serious conditions can take as long as 3-6 months to heal.
Catastrophic injuries and some neurological conditions have a much longer timeframe for recovery, and it can take between 18-24 months to reach maximum function.
Does physiotherapy really work?
There is a mountain of studies that show that physiotherapy is the most effective treatment for most musculoskeletal conditions and an invaluable adjunct to medical management of many other conditions.
What can I expect at a physiotherapy appointment?
At your initial appointment the physiotherapist will assess you and may require you to do some tasks or movements to determine what your limitations and the origin of your problem might be. Your physiotherapist might also touch your skin to feel how the muscles and joints in the area are feeling or behaving during movement. You might also have some treatment done during your first visit. With you follow up appointment there will be a quick assessment to see whether you have improved or deteriorated since the last session and how treatment might have to be adapted. You will receive treatment and will then be reassessed to see whether the treatment techniques were successful. You might also be given a home exercise program to help you improve quicker.
Do you have to take your clothes off for physiotherapy?
The physiotherapist might ask you to take some of your clothing off to assess and/or treat the problem area. This is always done with your consent and the physiotherapist will always be sensitive to your modesty. It is good to wear loose clothing that you can move in when going to your physiotherapy appointment.
Does physiotherapy hurt?
Most of the treatment techniques in physiotherapy does not hurt but can be uncomfortable. Physiotherapists are highly trained, and you can rest assured that the techniques will always be safe, even when it feels uncomfortable at the time.
