HOW CAN A PHYSIOTHERAPIST SUPPORT YOU?

Physiotherapists are healthcare professionals who assess and manage conditions affecting movement, function, and physical capacity. At PAIN, physiotherapy focuses on supporting people with acute and persistent pain by addressing movement limitations, physical deconditioning, and functional difficulties associated with pain.

Physiotherapy interventions aim to support mobility, strength, flexibility, and confidence in movement. Management plans are individualised and developed based on clinical assessment, functional goals, and the person’s overall health context.

Education

Education forms an important component of physiotherapy care. Physiotherapists provide information about pain, movement, and physical health to support understanding and informed participation in care.

Education may include explanations of how pain affects the body, how movement can be adapted safely, and how daily activities can be structured to support recovery and function.

Movement and Excercise

Movement plays a key role in physical health and functional capacity. Physiotherapists assess movement patterns and physical capacity to guide appropriate activity and exercise.

Exercise programmes are prescribed based on individual needs and may be adjusted over time. The focus is on safe, graded movement that supports strength, endurance, flexibility, and confidence in physical activity.

Additional Physiotherapy Techniques

Physiotherapists may use a range of treatment approaches as part of care, depending on clinical findings. These may include manual techniques, electrotherapy modalities, postural advice, or other supportive interventions.

These approaches are typically used alongside education and exercise, rather than in isolation, to support functional outcomes.

PHYSIOTHERAPY AT PAIN

Physiotherapy is a healthcare profession concerned with movement, physical function, and participation in daily activities. Physiotherapists work to assess how pain and physical conditions affect movement and function, and to support recovery through evidence-based interventions.

Physiotherapists at PAIN work with individuals experiencing pain, stiffness, weakness, or reduced physical capacity. Interventions are selected based on assessment findings and may include education, exercise-based rehabilitation, manual techniques, and other clinically appropriate modalities.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR PHYSIOTHERAPY SESSION

A physiotherapy session typically begins with a detailed discussion of medical history, pain experience, activity levels, and previous management strategies.

Assessment may include observation of posture and movement, physical examination, and functional testing. Patients may be asked to perform movements such as walking, standing, sitting, or other task-specific activities relevant to their daily life.

Standardised questionnaires may be used to better understand pain, function, and health-related factors.

Depending on the assessment findings and session length, treatment may begin during the initial appointment. This may include education, movement-based rehabilitation, or hands-on techniques, following discussion with the patient.

HOW CAN A PHYSIOTHERAPIST AT PAIN SUPPORT YOU?

  • CLINICAL ASSESSMENT AND PAIN UNDERSTANDING

    Physiotherapists are trained to assess musculoskeletal and movement-related contributors to pain. Assessment findings may contribute to understanding the factors influencing pain and function and may be shared with the broader care team where appropriate.

    Physiotherapists can also provide explanations of pain physiology in a way that supports understanding and informed decision-making.

  • PAIN MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

    Physiotherapists may support pain management through strategies such as pacing, activity modification, graded exposure to movement, and the use of selected physical modalities where appropriate.

    These strategies aim to support participation in daily activities and improve tolerance to movement over time.

  • INDIVIDUALISED MANAGEMENT PLANNING

    Management plans are developed collaboratively and tailored to individual goals, physical capacity, and clinical context.

    Plans may include education, exercise rehabilitation, manual techniques, and supportive interventions, selected based on assessment findings.

  • FUNCTION, MOBILITY, AND PARTICIPATION

    Persistent pain can affect mobility and daily functioning. Physiotherapy may support improvements in movement confidence, range of motion, strength, and physical endurance.

    The aim is to support participation in daily activities rather than focusing solely on symptom reduction.

  • INJURY RISK AND MOVEMENT EFFICIENCY


    Physiotherapists assess movement patterns and physical demands that may contribute to strain or overload. Where appropriate, guidance may be provided on movement efficiency, posture, and activity modification.

  • CONFIDENCE WITH MOVEMENT


    Persistent pain can lead to fear of movement and activity avoidance. Physiotherapists recognise this process and work gradually to support safe re-engagement with movement through education and graded activity.

CONDITIONS PHYSIOTHERAPISTS MAY SUPPORT

Physiotherapists at PAIN are trained to work with people experiencing both acute and persistent pain. Physiotherapy support may be appropriate for a wide range of conditions that affect movement, function, and physical capacity.

This may include back and neck pain, where physiotherapists assess movement patterns, strength, and flexibility to help address pain and functional limitation.

Physiotherapy may also support people living with arthritis, including osteoarthritis and other inflammatory joint conditions, by addressing pain, stiffness, reduced mobility, and physical deconditioning.

Individuals with neurological conditions such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, or spinal cord injury may experience pain alongside changes in movement and balance. Physiotherapy can support function through targeted rehabilitation aimed at mobility, strength, and balance.

Physiotherapy is commonly used as part of pre- and post-surgical rehabilitation, where treatment focuses on restoring movement, rebuilding strength, managing pain, and supporting a safe return to daily activities.

For people experiencing pelvic pain or pelvic floor dysfunction, physiotherapists may use exercise-based approaches and breathing strategies as part of management, where clinically appropriate.

Physiotherapy can also be helpful for acute injuries, particularly when pain has been present for a short period, to support recovery and reduce the risk of ongoing problems.

Physiotherapists are trained in both acute and chronic pain physiology and consider the multiple factors that influence pain and function. In addition to pain-related conditions, physiotherapists work with people across many areas of health, including respiratory, cardiovascular, and paediatric conditions.

If you are unsure whether physiotherapy may be appropriate for you, a physiotherapist can help assess your needs and discuss available options.

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PHYSIOTHERAPY INTERVENTIONS THAT MAY BE USED

Physiotherapists can use various techniques and methods to help you achieve your goals. ​

  • EDUCATION AND GUIDANCE


    Education may include information about pain mechanisms, physical activity, posture, ergonomics, breathing strategies, and activity pacing to support daily function.

  • MANUAL TECHNIQUES

    Manual techniques may be used to address movement restrictions, muscle tension, or joint stiffness. These techniques are selected based on assessment findings and clinical suitability.

  • EXERCISE-BASED REHABILITATION

    Exercise rehabilitation focuses on strength, flexibility, endurance, balance, and movement confidence. Exercises are prescribed individually and may be progressed over time.

  • NEURAL MOBILISATION TECHNIQUES


    Where clinically appropriate, specific techniques may be used to address mobility of neural structures affected by pain, stiffness, or sensitivity.

  • ELECTROTHERAPY AND SUPPORTIVE MODALITIES


    Modalities such as TENS, heat, or ice may be used as adjuncts to support pain management and comfort where indicated.

  • A combination of these approaches may be used to support movement, participation, and engagement in daily life, within an individualised and clinically guided framework.

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