Physiotherapy - How it works

The aim of physiotherapy is to help restore movement and normal body function in cases of illness, injury and disability.

Physiotherapists take a holistic approach, looking at the body as a whole rather than focusing on the individual factors of an injury or illness.

For example, back pain can be caused by a number of different things, including:

• poor posture
• inherited spinal deformity
• bending or twisting awkwardly
• overstretching
• standing for long periods
• lifting or carrying objects incorrectly

A physiotherapist will look at your individual situation. As well as treating the problem, they may also suggest things you can do on a daily basis to help relieve pain and discomfort.

For example, if you have lower back pain, maintaining good posture and doing core stability exercises to strengthen stomach and lower back muscles may help.

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Manual therapy techniques

Manual therapy involves using the hands to mobilise joints and soft tissues. It is suitable for most people and can be used to:

• improve blood circulation
• help fluid drain from parts of the body more efficiently
• improve movement of different parts of the body
• relieve pain and help relaxation

There is evidence to show manual therapy is beneficial in treating some types of musculoskeletal conditions, such as long-term  (where the pain lasts for longer than six weeks).

Other techniques

Other techniques that can help to ease pain and promote healing include:

• acupuncture – fine needles are inserted into specific points of the body. Acupuncture may be used alongside other physiotherapy techniques to help reduce tissue inflammation and pain, and to promote recovery.
• transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) – a TENS machine is a small, battery-operated machine that delivers an electric current to the affected area via two electrodes. The tingling sensation produced by the current can help block or suppress pain signals to your brain.
• ultrasound – high-frequency sound waves can treat deep tissue injuries by stimulating blood circulation and cell activity. It is thought it can help reduce pain and muscle spasm, as well as speed up healing.

Scientific evidence to support the above treatments is limited. For example, there is not enough firm evidence to say for sure whether TENS is a reliable method of pain relief.

Some people have reported that TENS has been effective for them, but it seems to depend on the condition and the individual. TENS is not suitable for people with a  other type of electrical implant.