Physiotherapy uses a variety of techniques to help your muscles and joints work to their full potential. It can help repair damage by speeding up the healing process and reducing pain and stiffness.

Physiotherapists also have an important role in rehabilitation and helping people return to their full potential both in activities of daily living, the workplace and sporting field. However, physiotherapists don't just offer treatment; their advice can help you prevent problems from returning or even happening in the first place.

Virtually any condition that affects your muscles, joints, or nerves can be helped by physiotherapy.

Common problems include:

• Painful conditions such as arthritis and rheumatological conditions
• Osteoporosis
• Back and neck pain, including whiplash and headaches
• Shoulder injuries
• Knee pain
• Pregnancy-related symptoms such as back pain and stress incontinence
• Upper limb work-related problems, also known as repetitive strain injury (RSI)
• Sports injuries

The physiotherapist's overall management of your problems involves:

• Observing and assessing your movement and your overall physical condition
• Analysing and identifying your problems
• Providing you with a diagnosis
• Developing a treatment or training program with you (and your family or carers) and, where appropriate, other members of the health care team
• Managing the treatment or training program based on your jointly agreed goals
• Evaluating progress, modifying treatment if necessary, and stopping treatment once goals have been reached - this will include advice on how you can help yourself; for example, you may be shown exercises that you can do between treatment sessions

Physiotherapists use a variety of treatments. For example: 

• Joint manipulation and mobilisation to reduce pain and stiffness
• Soft tissue and muscle release
• Dry needling
• Exercise programs, including group exercise programs, designed to improve mobility and strengthen muscles
• Muscle re-education and motor control retaining. Movement and biomechanical advice
• Pilates training

Throughout the treatment or re-training program, the physiotherapist evaluates your progress at regular intervals, modifying treatment and goals when necessary. Wherever possible your physio will also work with you to help you learn to manage your condition independently for the longer term. 

Physiotherapy deals with movement at all stages of life.

All physiotherapists registered to practice in Australia are qualified to provide safe, effective health care. Physiotherapists who are members of the Australian Physiotherapy Association make an extra commitment to quality health care.

APA physiotherapists are required to undertake continuing professional development programs to keep themselves up to date and to abide by a Code of Conduct which sets out expected standards of professional conduct.

These are important commitments to quality health care and are important points to remember when you are choosing your physiotherapist.

Many APA members also have further qualifications and expertise in special areas of physiotherapy practice.

At BJC Health we have physiotherapists specialised in Musculoskeletal, Manipulation Therapy, Sports Injuries, Orthopaedics, Ergonomics and Occupational Health.

APA Musculoskeletal physiotherapists are rightly regarded as experts in their chosen field of physiotherapy. They employ advanced clinical assessment and diagnosis methods, and have been trained in a broader range of treatment techniques than many other health professionals.

As a result, APA Musculoskeletal physiotherapists are world-leaders in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of muscle and joint problems, especially low back and neck pain.

Sports physiotherapists have experience and knowledge of the latest evidence-based practice, skilled assessment and diagnosis of sports injuries, and use effective 'hands-on' management techniques to assist recovery and prevent injury.