What is Physiotherapy?

At some point, we’ve all wondered about what choices are best for us, whether it’s which company to bank with, which foods are healthiest and choosing between physiotherapy and osteopathy is no different! Healthcare is arguably harder to differentiate, mainly because every profession has its specialities and within those professions each therapist has their own specialities.

Take, for example, that you want to have neck pain resolved. Unless you have received a personal recommendation from someone who has had the same issue, you may never know if you need a physiotherapist, osteopath or chiropractor. We also have a service blog on Osteopathy and Sports massage to help you to differentiate between the two. We have also published article, “What is the difference between an osteopath, chiropractor and physiotherapist?” Which goes into the specifics of the three, but this service blog helps to figure this out from a physiotherapy perspective.

Physiotherapy

So, physiotherapy: what is it, and how does it help those suffering with pain, illness or disability? Physiotherapy is a profession regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), and they do most of their training in hospitals and community care environments which is very different to osteopaths, chiropractors and sports therapists.

How does it work

Physiotherapy is an evidence-based profession that helps patients through various means, mainly:

• Exercise therapy (movement therapy, strength and conditioning etc.)
• Soft tissue work (massage, frictions etc.)
• Providing education regarding your problem.

Physiotherapy can be quite hands-off compared to other services we offer, and the patient is expected to be more compliant with the advice outside of this clinic. This is more positive to some and less so to others, depending on your attitude towards exercise.

So, who do you see at the Movement and Wellbeing Clinic?

Recommendations on who to see is a tricky question, however we have summed up what you may expect from your therapist, based on what issues you have and what type of care you’d prefer. In both osteopathy and physiotherapy, you will get a full diagnosis, information on the condition and a management plan.