A physiotherapist, often known as a physio, uses a variety of techniques including exercise prescription, hands on treatment or special machines to decrease pain and maximise movement thus increasing function.
A physiotherapist may work with someone after injury, accident or surgery, or may work to prevent injury for instance with sporting clubs or in the workplace. Physiotherapists are found in a wide variety of settings: hospital; private clinics; hospices; nursing homes; a patient's own home; the workplace; sports clubs; gyms and in recent times offering online physiotherapy over the internet.
Physiotherapy Training
In July 2005 a law was passed protecting the title “physiotherapist” and “physical therapist” thereby restricting the use of these terms in the United Kingdom to persons who are eligible to register as a physiotherapist with the Health Professions Council.
In order to receive a certificate to practice and register with the Health professions council Physiotherapists study for three years to gain a BSc in Physiotherapy. Once registered members must maintain a portfolio documenting their continuous professional development, undertaking extra courses and study.
All Physiobench's physios are registered with the Health Professions Council and our registrations can be checked on the HPC website.
What should I expect if I consult a physiotherapist?
First of all the physio will undertake a comprehensive assessment of your problem. This will include asking you a lot of detailed questions about the problem such as how it started, what activities make it better or worse, as well as more general questions about your health, work, hobbies and sporting activities. This allows the physio to build up a picture of your injury, its symptoms and the stresses it is put under during a typical day. At Physiobench we offer online physiotherapy taking this history over a secure internet connection.
Treatment options depend on the problem that you are having but may include exercises to stretch tight structures, strengthen weak ones, improve balance, address muscle imbalnces or change the way you move; hands on mobilization to move joints or release soft tissues; or electrotherapy which is the use of machines such as ultrasound or TENS
What’s the difference between a physiotherapist and an osteopath or chiropractor?
There are many similarities between the three professions, but the main differences include:
- Osteopaths and chiropractors tend to work in private practice only. Physiotherapists work in a wide variety of settings.
- Osteopaths and chiropractors tend to treat mainly musculoskeletal conditions (joints and muscles) Physios treat a broad range of conditions for instance musculoskeletal, neurological (Disorders of the nerve system - such as after stoke or head injury) and respiratory (difficulty with breathing).
- Osteopaths and chiropractors use a lot of high velocity thrust manipulations (HVTm). Physiotherapists do use HVTm but also have a wide variety of other tools – for instance acupuncture, electrotherapy, exercise.
- Some osteopaths and chiropractors take X -rays, Physios are not licensed to do this, but may use diagnostic ultrasound.
- Some physios are now licensed to prescribe a limited amount of medications, osteopaths and chiropractors are not licensed to do this.
- Some physios have undertaken extra training and do joint injections.
