Physiotherapy is basically the science of diagnosing and treating injuries or diseases by using mostly physical means. It encompasses all areas of the lifespan from infants to the elderly in areas such as musculoskeletal, orthopaedics, rheumatology, respiratory, neurology, sports injuries and women’s/men’s health. It is a health profession concerned with helping to restore wellness to people following injury, pain ordisability.
Physiotherapy is defined by the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) as “providing services to individuals and populations to develop, maintain and restore maximum movement and functional ability throughout the lifespan”. This includes providing services in circumstances where movement and function are threatened by ageing, injury, pain, diseases, disorders, conditions or environmental factors. The main aim is to reduce pain and minimise dysfunction by using evidence-based techniques. Physiotherapy uses proven techniques and approaches to help restore movement and function to persons with injuries, disabilities resulting from onset of neurological conditions. It’s a therapy that helps persons with neurological ailments and disabilities achieve movement for life.