Physiotherapy is a health profession concerned with helping to restore wellness to people following injury, pain or disability. This is not limited to aches and pains or sporting injuries, physiotherapists work in a diverse range of roles which include Respiratory (Asthma, COPD & general breathing techniques) and Neurology among other areas. We also work across the lifespan, from birth right through to old age. Our settings vary depending on our roles and patients but Physiotherapists can be found in Hospitals, Primary Care Centres, in the Community or in Private Practice to name a few.
As outlined by the ISCP, Physiotherapists;
• Relieve pain and treat or prevent physical conditions.
• Promote physical independence and empower patients, and their carers, to manage their condition outside the clinical settings.
• Design and prescribe interventions specific to the individual (following assessment) to help people where movement and function are threatened by illness, pain, ageing, injury, disability, disease or environmental factors.
• Identify and maximise movement potential through promotion, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. Functional movement is central to what it means to be healthy.
So, why Physiotherapy? I say why not. A physio is a highly trained professional that can assist you with a variety of conditions, from regaining muscle strength post a hip replacement to improving your breathing to resolving on-going dizziness or balance issues and much more in-between.
The most important thing is that you find a physio that is trained and experienced in the area of expertise you need. There are a variety of training paths open to physios so our expertise and skill sets vary. Something which I feel the general public are not always aware of. You wouldn’t go to a heart surgeon for a new hip, and likewise it’s not advisable to go to a sports physio for rehabilitation post stroke or for chronic back pain.
Below is a link to the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists (ISCP) website. Here you will find more information about physiotherapy in general and have the ability to search out physios in your area. Don’t be afraid to ask your GP for guidance on finding a physio. Also, don’t be afraid to switch to a different physio if the one you are attending doesn’t feel right for you.
Photo Credit: Joyce McCown via Unsplash
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