Have you been to physiotherapy before? What does physiotherapy mean to you?

The Canadian Physiotherapy Association defines physiotherapy as a primary care, autonomous, client-focused health profession dedicated to improving quality of life by:

• Promoting optimal mobility, physical activity and overall health and wellness;

• Preventing disease, injury, and disability;

• Managing acute and chronic conditions, activity limitations, and participation restrictions;

• Improving and maintaining optimal functional independence and physical performance;

• Rehabilitating injury and the effects of disease or disability with therapeutic exercise programs and other interventions; and

• Educating and planning maintenance and support programs to prevent re-occurrence, re-injury or functional decline.

Physiotherapy is anchored in movement sciences and aims to enhance or restore function of multiple body systems.

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It is quite common that the first thing people think of when considering physiotherapy is that we can help with injuries like a sprained ankle or back pain. And it’s true, we do! But we can do so much more too! Continue reading to learn about all the other ways physiotherapy can help and some facts that you may not know about physiotherapy.

1. Physiotherapists can help individuals with chronic conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, asthma and heart disease to maximize their health, strength, mobility, exercise tolerance and function.

2. Physiotherapists can help individuals who have recently undergone surgery (such as joint repair or replacement, cardiac or abdominal surgery) to regain their strength, flexibility, endurance, balance and general mobility. But we can also help before the surgery too! Getting strong and creating an exercise regime before your surgery can make recovery easier afterwards. The stronger you are going in to surgery, the stronger you will be coming out.

3. In Canada, individuals do NOT need a doctor’s referral to book an appointment and receive physiotherapy care! This makes it easier to access physiotherapy care when you need it. *Please note that some insurance policies require a referral to submit claims.

4. Physiotherapists have extensive educational requirements in order to be registered in Canada. This includes a Master’s degree followed by entry-level exams and clinical experience in a residency before being fully licensed. Physiotherapy programs are limited and highly competitive as there are only 15 accredited programs in Canada. Each province has a regulatory college which ensures physiotherapists provide evidence-based and ethical care and abide by the regulations and standards of the profession.

5. Physiotherapy can do more than treat physical ailments. Research continues to support the positive impact that exercise has on mental health, stress management, mood and healthy behaviours. Although physiotherapy takes a primarily physical approach, it can serve as a natural way to help physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

6. You can find physiotherapists working in a wide range of areas. Physiotherapists work in many different settings including hospitals, rehabilitation centres, community clinics, nursing and long-term care homes, prisons and schools/university/college. As you might imagine, physiotherapists in these different areas would be working with different populations. Physiotherapists can work with a wide range of individuals including those in every stage of the lifespan (from infants and children, geriatric and hospice care), athletes, pelvic and natal care, musculoskeletal conditions as well as cardiorespiratory, neurological and cancer care. Physiotherapists can also take on non-clinical roles such as teaching and health promotion.

Were any of these facts new to you? Comment below if any were surprising! Is there anything you are still interested in knowing about physiotherapy? Ask and we would be happy to answer.

Thanks for reading and following along!

Until next time,

Kaitlin Proksch - Registered Physiotherapist & Director of Move At Home Physiotherapy

References:

The Power of prevention; chronic disease . . . the public health challenge of the 21st century. Corporate Authors(s) : National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (U.S.). Published Date : 2009 URL : https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/5509

Mandolesi, L., Polverino, A., Montuori, S., Foti, F., Ferraioli, G., Sorrentino, P., Sorrentino, G. (2018). Effects of Physical Exercise on Cognitive Functioning and Wellbeing: Biological and Psychological Benefits. Frontiers in Psychology, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00509