This seems to be a common misconception. Physiotherapy is a science-based profession that focuses on correcting movement dysfunction. Yes, physiotherapists employ massage techniques in treating their patients. Pain, stiffness, trigger points, muscle tension and other conditions respond well to massage, but it is just one modality in a long list of treatments that physiotherapists carry out.
Other physiotherapy functions are:
- Improve endurance and overall fitness level for work or play through exercise.
- Strengthen and develop key muscles needed for optimum performance in sport.
- Correct muscle imbalance.
- Improve postural imbalance that may later cause neck and back pain.
- Provide stretching exercises to increase range-of-motion and flexibility.
- Ergonomically safe design environments.
- Decrease pain and stiffness caused by arthritis or any other musculoskeletal conditions
- Re-educate muscles and improve function in neurologically-impaired patients
- Provide relief for patients with cardiothoracic conditions.
- Rehabilitate patients after surgery or car accidents.
- Educate patients to prevent injury.
There is much more that can be said about the role of physiotherapy in health care, but these points are just an indication that our profession entails much more than massage. Why not come in and see for yourself?