Guest Blog | What Are the Benefits of Physiotherapy?

Musculoskeletal Physiotherapists are specialists in these types of injuries, and are able to help many of these conditions by improving physical function and reducing patients’ pain. Furthermore, many who use physiotherapy services (and they’re not all sport enthusiasts or Olympic athletes) are reported to see positive changes in their overall health, and an increase in vitality in the workplace. Overall, every £1 invested in physiotherapy for work-related problems can provide up to a 300% return on investment (2).

For many people, physiotherapy is a safe and effective way to reduce pain and stiffness in a wide range of short-term and long-term injuries, from sprained ankles and repetitive strain injuries, to lower back pain, tendon injuries, and arthritis. In fact, just speaking with a physiotherapist about the small changes people can make to improve their situation has been shown make a huge difference.

Exactly What Happens During Physiotherapy?

Physiotherapists use a holistic approach to care, considering the whole patient and involving them in every stage of their treatment. A physiotherapy assessment will normally begin with the physiotherapist carefully listening to the patient discuss the injury, so that they can fully understand the problem. Next, they will often observe and analyse the important features of the injury in order to diagnose the problem, such as posture, and how the injured area moves. Finally, they’ll ask the patient to make specific movements and monitor the area, and carefully palpate it to identify the specific structures which could be causing the problem.

Once the physiotherapist has diagnosed the problem, they’ll work with the patient on agreeing some goals to help focus the recovery. These goals can range from being completely pain-free, to being more flexible and increasing their awareness of their problem areas so that they can achieve a specific target (running a marathon for example). Each individual is different, so it’s important that the goals are tailored to the patient’s exact needs.

Treatments

The next part of the process involves the patient and physiotherapist designing an appropriate treatment plan to effectively address the injury. Some therapists are also able to prescribe specific medications to relieve pain and improve function to help speed up the recovery.

Once treatment has commenced, patients have regular check-ups and repeat treatments typically every 1-2 weeks, and to assess the progress being made. Most patients complete a full course of treatment in around 6-10 sessions from start to finish, although it really depends on the problem and the person. The vast majority complete physiotherapy having achieved their goals, and others, whilst they might not be 100% back to normal, leave feeling in considerably less pain and with a much improved level of function.”

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Don’t forget that as a Paycare policyholder you can claim 100% of the costs you spent on physiotherapy (total costs vary depending on the level of cover you have, please read your policy documents for full rules). To find out more and the professional regulatory bodies we cover, please visit our benefits page.

About Troy

Troy has worked all around the world and trained with some of the best international clinicians. In 2010, he completed the AREA emergency first aid trauma management course for the Premier League and went on to work for England Football Association in 2011. Troy currently works part-time as a physiotherapist for Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club and runs a specialist Bio-Regeneration, Osteoarthritis and Physiotherapy clinic. For more information, you can visit  www.BioRegenClinic.com or connect with Troy on Twitter @TroyBioRegen.

(1) Health and Safety Executive | https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/musculoskeletal/msd.pdf

(2) Staffordshire County Council | https://moderngov.staffordshire.gov.uk/documents/s56367/Item%204%20Health%20Safety.pdf