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.
