The aim of physiotherapy is to restore proper functioning to the body. As well as treating a specific injury or illness, the physiotherapist will also consider ways to improve your general well-being and quality of life. In this way, it is similar to some complementary therapies, and is often used alongside other therapies such as acupuncture, or pilates.
Physiotherapists take a holistic approach (looking at the body as a whole rather than focusing on individual factors) to an injury or disease. For example, back pain can be caused by a number of factors including posture, diet, exercise and work.
Patient education is an important part of physiotherapy. As well as aiming to improve your strength and mobility, physiotherapy also teaches you how to manage your condition more effectively, such as improving your lifestyle by eating more healthily and exercising regularly.
Physiotherapists use a range of techniques, but the most common are outlined below.
Massage and manipulation
Massage is suitable for most people receiving physiotherapy treatment, and involves manipulating the soft tissues of your body. Different types of massage are used to treat different conditions; for example, to improve circulation (the flow of blood around your body), to help fluid drain from parts of your body more efficiently, to improve movement of different parts of your body, or to relieve pain and help relaxation. Conditions that may be treated with massage include neck problems, headaches and stress.
Exercise and movement
Physiotherapy often includes lots of different types of exercises to help with particular problems. This may include general, gentle exercise, such as walking, or swimming, or specific exercises to target certain areas of the body. Exercises are designed to strengthen your body and improve your range of movement, and they normally need to be repeated daily for a number of weeks. Your physiotherapist will advise you about which exercises to do for your particular condition and will also show you how to do them safely.
Electrotherapy
Electrotherapy uses electrical impulses (small electrical 'shocks') to stimulate your nervous system. These impulses are thought to override pain messages, and help promote the healing process.
There are several different types of electrotherapy. Some of the most widely used ones are outlined below.
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) - this involves a small electrical device about the size of an MP3 player. The device is connected by wires to small sticky electrodes which are placed on your skin. The TENS works by stopping the nerves from sending 'pain signals' to your brain, and stimulating the release of your body's own painkilling chemicals (endorphins).
- Ultrasound - this technique uses high frequency sound waves which are thought to stimulate blood circulation and cell activity in order to speed up the healing process and provide pain relief.
- Shortwave diathermy - this uses a device that produces an electromagnetic field that generates heat within your body's tissue. This is thought to reduce swelling, strengthen the tissues, and reduce pain.
- Laser therapy - this technique uses lasers (narrow beams of light) to stimulate cell function, in order to speed up the healing process and to reduce swelling and relive pain.
Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy is a form of physiotherapy that is carried out in water, usually in a warm, shallow swimming pool, or a special hydrotherapy bath. The resistance (weight) of the water pushes against your body as you do special exercises while you are floating. This improves circulation (the flow of blood around your body), relieves pain and relaxes tension in your muscles.
Alternating hot and cold showers, jet sprays, whirlpool baths and jet massage are other types of hydrotherapy that may also be used. They help to stimulate your nerves and stop pain messages travelling to your brain, as well as making your muscles work more effectively.
