What is musculoskeletal physiotherapy?

Musculoskeletal physiotherapy is a combination of techniques and strategies to help restore movement and function. Techniques include teaching exercises, practising particular movements, and finding alternative ways of accomplishing a task. The specific combination of techniques will depend on the condition being treated, and a musculoskeletal physiotherapist will have specialised in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions.

Who can benefit from physiotherapy?

A musculoskeletal physiotherapist can treat people with:

arthritis
back pain or neck pain
repetitive strain injury
a sports injury or work-related injury
osteoporosis
knee or hip replacements

What does treatment involve?

Treatment depends on the particular condition you have but can involve:

manual therapy to improve mobility
hydrotherapy
electrotherapy
advice on pain management and coping strategies
exercises to do at home and (sometimes) free enrolment in group exercise programs

How do you prepare for a physiotherapy appointment?

Whether or not you’ve been referred to the physiotherapist from your GP, it’s important to come to the appointment with all of the information the physiotherapist might need, as well as an idea of what you want to get out of seeing them. Therefore it’s helpful to come prepared with:

a list of any medication you currently take
a clear overview of your symptoms, when they occur, and the intensity of any pain you experience
loose, easily-removable clothes if you have pain and the physiotherapy needs to inspect it
an idea of what goals you’d like to prioritise in your treatment: what do you currently struggle with that you want to do more easily? What gets in the way of your life the most?