Physiotherapy

Looking for Physiotherapy?

When you are starting a new relationship with a physiotherapist, ask about credentials. You will want to ensure that you receive physiotherapy services from an individual that has completed an accredited education program and is registered with the physiotherapy regulatory college in your province/territory.

Have confidence that your mobility is in good hands

As primary health care professionals, physiotherapists combine in-depth knowledge of how the body works with specialized hands-on clinical skills to assess, diagnose and treat symptoms of illness, injury or disability.

With your independence in mind, a physiotherapist's goal is to restore, maintain and maximize your strength, function, movement and overall well-being.

Physiotherapists prescribe personalized therapeutic exercises, and provide essential education about the body, what keeps it from moving well, how to restore mobility and independence, and how to avoid or prevent bodily harm.

Patient-centered care

Your physiotherapist will begin treatment with an extensive assessment that may include health history, evaluation of pain and movement patterns, strength, joint range of motion, reflexes, sensation, and heart and lung function.

Based on this assessment, your physiotherapist will establish a diagnosis and work in partnership with you to develop an individualized treatment program and prognosis.

Expect your physiotherapist to guide you in performing therapeutic exercises in between appointments. Your progress will be monitored at follow-up visits and your physiotherapist may adjust your treatment according to changes in your body.

Hands-on therapy and other treatments

By integrating targeted therapeutic strategies, interventions, methods and techniques, your physiotherapist will assess, diagnose and treat symptoms of illness, injury or disability.

The hands-on care physiotherapists provide varies from person to person with a focus on the individual needs and personal health and lifestyle goals of the client.

Your physiotherapist assessment may include measures of body functions, strength and weakness testing, and observed or instrumented analysis of gait, posture, balance, joint range of motion, and functional movement.

Your physiotherapist's therapeutic treatment plan will involve education, exercise, and manual therapy components. Depending on your condition, this may include mobilization, manual therapy, work hardening, techniques and modalities to reduce pain, acupuncture, corrective techniques to improve heart and lung function and cardiac conditioning, demonstration of therapeutic exercise, and education about your condition, treatment plan and prognosis for getting better.

By combining the principles of evidence-informed practice, evaluative skills, clinical and professional judgment, your physiotherapist will work closely with you, and often with other health care professionals, to ensure that your health goals are met.

Exercise therapies

Physiotherapists prescribe therapeutic exercises to combat the physiological effects of bed rest and immobility, or to improve range of motion, muscle strength, posture and gait, for example.

A therapeutic exercise program will be designed to address your individual health concern, and may involve exercises that can be done at home, or in a gym, pool, out-patient clinic and/or hospital.

To assist your recovery or maintain your functional independence, your physiotherapist may prescribe assistive mobility devices such as walkers, crutches or canes.

Overall health

Physiotherapists are primary health care professionals that play a significant role in health promotion and injury and disease prevention.