How Can Physiotherapy Help?

Last Updated on 5 August 2024 by Brisbane Livewell Clinic

How Physiotherapy Supports Your Well-being

Physiotherapy is your go-to for support with a variety of challenges in your body, helping you move better and feel better over the course of a treatment program (and occasionally with only one session).

Here’s a closer look at how Physio can help you in relation to some common health issues that may arise in your body.

Common Issues and How Physiotherapy Can Help

1. Back Pain: A Common Health Challenge

Causes: Things like not-so-great posture, scoliosis, muscle imbalances, health conditions, not moving enough, slumped posture as people look at their phones more.
Physio’s Approach: Physiotherapists utilise a combination of hands-on manual therapy techniques, therapeutic exercises, and patient education. They may work on your muscles, teach you exercises, and help you understand your back better, focusing on making your core stronger and improving how you sit, stand, and move.

2. Sports Injuries: Getting You Back in the Game

What’s Covered: Any injury you might pick up playing sports, from a twisted ankle to a serious muscle tear.
Physio’s Approach: Physiotherapists tailor rehabilitation exercises, use manual therapy, and even use sport-specific training and workouts to help you recover safely and reduce the chance of hurting yourself again.

3. Arthritis: Easing Joint Pain

The Issue: Arthritis can make your joints stiff, swollen and painful, limiting what you can do.
Physio’s Approach: Physiotherapists may use exercises, hot or cold treatments, and gentle joint movements to help keep you active and support pain management. They may also teach you how to protect your joints and move in different ways to reduce pain.

4. Stroke Recovery: Regaining Independence

Challenges: After a stroke, moving around and doing everyday tasks can be difficult.
Physio’s Approach: Physiotherapists often collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop individualised rehabilitation programs for stroke sufferers. They may focus on teaching you through specific activities and exercises how to re-learn certain movements and body functions, to help you get your range of motion (and independence) back.

5. Post-Surgery: On the Road to Recovery

What It’s For: Helping you bounce back after surgeries like knee, hip and shoulder replacements.
Physio’s Approach: Physiotherapists may plan out your rehabilitation, guiding you through exercises and treatments that help you heal properly and get back to your daily life.

6. Neck Pain: More Than Just a Pain in the Neck

Causes: Often comes from sitting badly, tension, scoliosis or other neck issues.
Physio’s Approach: They might use gentle neck movements, stretches, and exercises to support you with pain management, and help you get your neck moving comfortably again.

7. Neurological Conditions: Supporting Movement and Independence

Conditions: This includes things like Parkinson’s or injuries to your spinal cord.
Physio’s Approach: With special exercises and training, Physiotherapists help you keep as much movement and independence as possible, particularly supporting your balance and walking.

8. Work-Related Injuries: Keeping You Productive

The Problem: Injuries from doing the same thing over and over or from a bad setup or accident at work.
Physio’s Approach: They look at how you work and show you how to move to avoid injury, supporting you to get back to work safely. WorkCover and WorkSafe often covers these treatments.

9. Paediatric Physiotherapy: Helping Kids Thrive

Child-Centred Care: Focusing on supporting children from infants to adolescents, Paediatric Physiotherapy focuses on supporting a child’s physical development and supporting conditions from birth defects to injuries. It’s all about making sure kids can play, learn, and grow as they should.
Engaging and Effective: With sessions crafted to be both fun and functional, Paediatric Physiotherapists often use playful exercises and activities to support movement and coordination in children across the longer term. They also provide support for families, offering advice on how to encourage healthy development at home, all while working closely with other healthcare professionals to support comprehensive care for each child’s physical and emotional wellbeing.

Wrapping Up

Physiotherapy offers support for a wide range of health issues, focusing on supporting your body to work better and feel better. It’s all about personalised Health Plans that meet your specific needs, supporting you to recover, manage pain, and improve your overall quality of life.

So find yourself an experienced Physiotherapist like Ciaran Caldwell, and get support when you need – don’t leave smaller issues with your body to become bigger issues over time.

Ciaran Caldwell

Ciaran Caldwell is our Physiotherapist at Brisbane Livewell Clinic. He focuses on Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, Sports Physiotherapy and Paediatric Physiotherapy.

Useful Resources

Physiotherapy Queensland