Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy involves hands-on treatments that help you to regain the use of your body. For example, if you have arthritis, it can help to keep your joints moving and strengthen their surrounding muscles.

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Physiotherapists are experts in human movement who aim to help people keep active and free of pain.

They work in different places, from intensive care units to nursing homes, mental health wards and GP surgeries. Physiotherapists can help you get back to health after an illness by working on your body and helping it heal. They help and treat people of all ages who have physical problems. These problems can be caused by illness, accident, surgery or ageing. People with mental health problems may also benefit from the physical help physiotherapists provide.

It's natural to be a little concerned before your first visit to a physiotherapist, but there's no need to be. "Don’t be nervous about your appointment," says chartered physiotherapist Sammy Margo. "Physiotherapists are used to treating people who are anxious and in pain."

The most common techniques used in physiotherapy are:

Massage and manipulation

This is suitable for most people. Different types of massage are used for different conditions, e.g. to improve circulation (the flow of blood around the body), help fluid to drain from parts of the body more efficiently, make it easier to move parts of the body, or relieve pain and help relaxation.

Conditions that can be treated with massage include neck problems, headaches and stress. Some physiotherapists now use acupuncture.

Exercise and movement

This could be gentle general exercise, such as walking or swimming, or you may be taught specific exercises to strengthen certain areas of the body. These normally need to be repeated daily for a number of weeks.

Electrotherapy

Electrotherapy uses tiny electrical shocks to stimulate the nervous system. This makes certain muscles squeeze together, which reduces pain and helps muscles repair themselves. Electrotherapy doesn’t hurt. It causes a tingling feeling just under the surface of the skin.

There are two types: transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES). Physios also use ultrasound, which helps stimulate circulation and promote healing, and lasers, which use light energy to improve the condition of the injured area.

Hydrotherapy

This is physiotherapy in water, usually a warm, shallow swimming pool or special hydrotherapy bath. The resistance (weight) of the water pushes against your body as you do special exercises while you’re floating. This improves the flow of blood around your body, relieves pain and relaxes muscle tension.

Alternating hot and cold showers, jet sprays, whirlpool baths and jet massage may also be used. These help to stimulate the nerves and stop pain messages travelling to the brain, as well as making the muscles work more effectively.