What is physiotherapy?
"Physiotherapy is a health care profession concerned with human function and movement and maximising potential":
- it uses physical approaches to promote, maintain and restore physical, psychological and social well-being, taking account of variations in health status
- it is science-based, committed to extending, applying, evaluating and reviewing the evidence that underpins and informs its practice and delivery
- the exercise of clinical judgement and informed interpretation is at it's core.
Physiotherapists can work in a wide variety of health settings and can provide advice to help prevent injury, plus treat a wide range of conditions, including occupational and sports injuries, over-use injuries, treatment after strokes, or pre and post surgery.
Since its emergence as an independent profession over 100 years ago, physiotherapy has adapted and evolved its treatment techniques and increased the range and number of patients it can help. This has included investigating and incorporating complementary therapies that link with the core philosophy and practices of the profession.
Physiotherapy aims to restore balance and facilitate the body's own healing responses rather than to target individual disease processes or stop troublesome symptoms. This links directly with the areas of complementary medicine.
Traditional, conventional physiotherapy requires physiotherapists to be trained in and practice:
- Massage and manipulation
- Exercise and movement
- Electrotherapy
Chartered physiotherapists are increasingly using alternative health interventions to work with the traditional physiotherapy treatments that link with the above.
Some Physiotherapists are now developing their skills further and following qualification from approved courses can practice in:
- Acupuncture
- Alexander technique
- Aromatherapy
- Craniosacral therapy
- Pilates
- Reflexology
- Shiatsu massage
