Q1: What is the role of physiotherapist?
Ans:
Many people are familiar with the physiotherapists' role in rehabilitation after a musculoskeletal injury or surgery. Others have been exposed to physiotherapy treatment of head injuries and strokes. You will also find physiotherapists treating cardiorespiratory conditions, sports injuries, teaching professios, providing health-related consulting services to various industries, etc.

Q2: What a physiotherapist can tell about my disorder?
Ans:
Physiotherapists usually do not definitively determine disease states. They are, however, interested in and responsible for defining movement and pain disorders which arise from disease states. For any such disorder related to movement dysfunction, pain syndromes and functional impairments physiotherapists are able to provide treatment as well as preventive guidelines.

Q3: How long the physiotherapy treatment would take?
Ans:
Length of treatment will depend on your diagnosis and assessment findings. Typically the longer you have a condition often times the longer it will take to resolve. Typical frequency of visits is 4 to 5 times per week. Some conditions such as congenital muscular torticollis require extensive parental education and implementation of a home program. This is monitored less frequently. Other injuries such as those sustained at work may require more frequent visits. The number of treatments you need depends on your diagnosis, severity of your impairments, your past medical history, age, whether you smoke, etc. You may need one treatment or months of treatment depending on all of the above.

Q4: What happens if I delay treatment?
Ans:
With any soft tissue injury the body responds with an attempt to heal itself. The inflammatory process that immediately ensues results in swelling, pain, scar tissue formation and adhesions, and muscular inhibition. If the correct treatment is not initiated promptly you may be left with chronic inflammation, muscular imbalances, adhesions, and the development of abnormal movement patterns. This can lengthen treatment and recovery times. It's always better to address problems earlier rather than later. At most of the Physiotherapy Clinics you can get an appointment the same or next day.

Q5: Will the physiotherapists communicate with my family doctor?
Ans:
Normally we will send a copy of your initial assessment to the referring and family physicians. It is our belief that through this team effort and good communication that the patients can receive timely and thorough treatment. If for any reason you do not want us to communicate with your family physician, we will of course respect your wishes.

Q6: Is physiotherapy treatment painful?
Ans:
For many patients, one of the primary objectives is pain relief. This is frequently accomplished with hands-on techniques, modalities such as ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and/or heat or cold therapy. Movement often provides pain relief as well. Your physiotherapist will provide you with the appropriate exercises not only for pain relief but to recover range of motion, strength, and endurance.
In some cases, physiotherapy techniques can be painful. Recovering knee range of motion after total knee replacement or shoulder range of motion after shoulder surgery may be painful as we work to achieve the goal of lengthening shortened soft tissues. You will always be made to understand the source of your pain. Your physiotherapist will utilize a variety of techniques to help maximize your treatment goals. It is important that you communicate the intensity, frequency, and duration of pain to your therapist.

Q7: How to choose a good physiotherapist?
Ans:
Because physiotherapists are experts in movement and function, it is important that you know that your provider physiotherapist is registered with the appropriate licensing body of your country. Although you may see signs offering "physical therapy", the services offered may not be performed by a regulated professional, therefore leaving you at risk of injury or worse.

Q8: How should I dress for physiotherapy treatment? Ans:
You should wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing so that you can expose the area to be assessed and treated. For example, if you have a knee problem, it is best to wear shorts. For a shoulder problem, a tank top is the best choice, and for lower back problems, wear a loose fitting shirt and pants, so we can perform a thorough examination. Cotton clothes are always recommended when using heat modalities for treatment.