• Physiotherapy is a commonly known but often misunderstood field of medicine.
• Anyone can benefit from physiotherapy, whether injured or healthy, young or old, because programs depend on one's needs, as well as health and fitness goals, not just one muscle group.
• A licensed physiotherapist can assess a patient for problematic joints and muscles and develop a plan that works at the patient's pace toward strength and healing.

Physiotherapy is kind of treatment that aims to restore function or movement in the patient. It can also serve to maintain proper function and movement of certain muscle groups. Unlike other medical procedures, physiotherapy uses a holistic approach. This means that during treatment, the patient's body is examined as a whole rather than focusing on just one injury, muscle, or problem area.

Some people don't know the purpose of physiotherapy, which is for prevention and rehabilitation of the body from injury, disease, and disability. Here are a some misconceptions that people have about the treatment.

Physiotherapy is only for people who are injured 

Physiotherapy is a great option for injured athletes and elders who have hurt themselves from a bad fall. However, recovering from bumps and bruises is only one of the many issues that physiotherapy addresses. Physiotherapy can be helpful for anyone who wants to live an active lifestyle. A physiotherapist will assess their client's health and goals, then come up with a plan for them to follow together.

Physiotherapists can also diagnose a potential problem in an otherwise healthy individual. With their knowledge of various muscle groups, they can pinpoint health risks such as carpal tunnel syndrome, frozen shoulder, chronic headaches, and lower back pain. Even if you have no immediate medical concerns, you could benefit from consulting with a physiotherapist.

Physiotherapy is painful 

Depending on the problem being dealt with, physiotherapy sessions can somewhat be uncomfortable for the patient. For an instance, some may say that they experience discomfort during an elite sports massage – but this specific type of treatment isn't necessary for most patients.

On the contrary, physiotherapists will always do the best that they can to minimize patients' pain and discomfort during the treatment. As they go through the exercises, they check in often and work around the limits and tolerance of the patient. Aside from healing and restoring movement, one of the purposes of physiotherapy is pain management, whether it's for temporary, chronic, or long-term pain.

Physiotherapy is all about stretching 

Some people get turned off of physiotherapy because they believe it only involves stretching, which is not worth investing time and money in. In actuality, stretching and strength building are both vital parts of physiotherapy. With a proper physiotherapy program, you won't need to work with a separate professional for muscle strength.

Before a patient formally begins with their sessions, a physiotherapist will assess their body to make a "blueprint" of their injury. This blueprint can tell them whether some part is moving more than it should, or not moving freely enough. It can also show whether a muscle is weak or strong, or if it's too tight. The blueprint will be the basis of the design of the patient's exercise program, which includes movement exercises, stretching, and strengthening exercises.

Physiotherapists only focus on one injured area 

Any time they treat an injury, physiotherapists are investigating the source of the pain and the reason the patient is experiencing pain at the same time. This isn't always in the same  place as the injury itself, because the parts of the body are interconnected.

According to joint director of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Clinic, Graeme Everard, "Pain is often referred from elsewhere. For example, pain in the knee may be coming from your lower back, and therefore simply treating the knee would not be effective." Dr. Everard is also a chartered physiotherapist, and he emphasizes how important it is not just to treat symptoms "but seek to find the root cause of your problem in order to deliver an effective treatment plan to help get you back to being fit and healthy."

Surgery is more effective than physiotherapy

There are many conditions that can be treated with physiotherapy just as effectively as they would with surgery. For example, tears in one's rotator cuff, degenerative disk disease, meniscal tears, and some kinds of knee osteoarthritis can be healed entirely through physiotherapy — that is, there will be no need for surgery at all.

Although physiotherapy isn't a substitute for all surgeries, recent studies show that a good number of people have opted for it over surgery for some of the injuries mentioned above. In fact, 79% of patients interviewed believe that physiotherapy is a safe, practical choice for those who prefer not to go under the knife.

Physiotherapists need to see an x-ray before they can give treatment

X-ray scans, MRIs, and ultrasounds are all useful for diagnosing illness and injury. However, this doesn't mean that a physiotherapist will be lost without one. In fact,  there are some injuries that can't be picked up by imaging such as stiff joints, tight muscles, and weak muscles.

Even without the help of imaging, physiotherapists are able to conduct thorough screenings of their patients. First-timers will be required to state a detailed account of their medical history. They will be asked about symptoms they have experienced or are currently experiencing as this will be the basis for the physiotherapist’s assessment. After some additional treatments, the physiotherapist will be able to determine whether the patient will need a referral to another doctor for further evaluation or they can proceed healing with their physiotherapy plan.

Any doctor can perform physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is a field on its own, so it can't be practiced by just any medical professional. In addition, some physiotherapists also study and obtain certification in other areas that will complement their practice. Neurology, orthopedics, sports medicine, and women's health are just a few examples.

The belief that any doctor can make the diagnoses and perform the treatments that a physiotherapist can is a common misconception. While 42% of consumers do understand that physiotherapy can only be performed by a licensed physiotherapist, there is still a good 37% who believe that other healthcare professionals who are not specially trained can administer physiotherapy just the same.

There's one kind of physiotherapy program for everyone 

Physiotherapy is not a "one size fits all" type of practice. It cannot be reduced to a simple list of exercises that will cure any ailment as long as you do them with consistency. In fact, using this method could even cause additional problems for patients.

Physiotherapists deal with patients that have a wide variety of problems in different degrees, and that have different objectives for their bodies and lifestyles. Aside from imuscle, joint, bone, and ligament issues, physiotherapists can also treat lung problems like asthma. They are trained to assist people with disabilities due to heart problems, and those with pelvic issues like bladder and bowel issues associated with childbirth. Physiotherapists also help people who have experienced loss of mobility because of Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, or trauma to the brain or spine.

That being said, physiotherapists take the time to create a personalized plan for each patient they cater to. A physiotherapy plan is more than a combination of exercises. It will also include specific techniques for managing and reducing pain and for healing injuries, and in some cases, visceral treatment, manual therapy, or acupuncture, depending on what they foresee will work best for the patient, and what the patient is comfortable with.

While physiotherapy is best known as a form of treatment for sprains, strains, and other such injuries, it covers much more than healing from injuries. Physiotherapists do manual therapy to relieve pain and stiffness and make it easier for patients to move their bodies. They use techniques like aquatic therapy and acupuncture to promote healing. They teach and advise their patients as well so that the patients can eventually continue the program they made with minimal assistance, or none at all. Physiotherapists develop plans for healing that are tailored to the needs and goals for each of their patients.

Anyone who aims move freely and worry less about falling down or getting injured can consult with a physiotherapist to start a program that helps attain that goal. Whether you're a competitive athlete, someone recovering from a bout of illness or an accident, or a fairly fit person who wants to keep up your current lifestyle, physiotherapy will be useful to you.