Physiotherapy is a branch of healthcare that focuses on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of physical conditions and injuries. Physiotherapists employ a range of techniques and modalities to promote healing, relieve pain, improve mobility, and enhance overall well-being. Some of the common techniques and modalities used by physiotherapists include:

1. Musculoskeletal ultrasound: This imaging technique helps assess soft tissue structures, such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments, to aid in diagnosis and treatment planning.

2. Rehabilitative ultrasound: Similar to musculoskeletal ultrasound, rehabilitative ultrasound is used during the rehabilitation process to guide and monitor exercises and therapies.

3. Manual therapy: Physiotherapists use hands-on techniques, such as joint mobilization, soft tissue mobilization, and manipulations, to improve joint and tissue mobility, reduce pain, and enhance function.

4. Exercise therapy: Physiotherapists prescribe specific exercises tailored to an individual's condition and goals. These exercises help improve strength, flexibility, endurance, balance, and coordination.

5. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP): PRP therapy involves using a concentrated form of platelets from the patient's blood to promote healing and tissue regeneration. It is often used in the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries, such as tendonitis or ligament sprains.

Physiotherapists work with individuals of all ages and with various conditions, including but not limited to:

• Musculoskeletal conditions: Physiotherapists treat conditions like back pain, neck pain, joint pain, arthritis, fractures, sprains, strains, and post-surgical rehabilitation.

• Cardiovascular conditions: Physiotherapy can help individuals with heart disease or cardiovascular conditions through prescribed exercises and education on lifestyle modifications.

• Neurological conditions: Physiotherapists work with individuals who have neurological disorders, such as stroke, spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and traumatic brain injuries, to improve mobility, balance, and functional abilities.

• Respiratory conditions: Physiotherapy interventions, such as breathing exercises, chest physiotherapy, and airway clearance techniques, can benefit individuals with respiratory conditions like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cystic fibrosis.

• Mental health issues: Physiotherapy can play a role in managing mental health conditions by promoting physical activity, relaxation techniques, and improving overall well-being.

When seeking the assistance of a physiotherapist, it is advisable to consult with your local family physician for a referral or recommendation. They can guide you to find a qualified and experienced physiotherapist who can address your specific needs.

A local physiotherapist is a wellness provider that uses a variety of non-invasive techniques to treat patients. A local physiotherapist may use spinal adjustment, manual adjustment, PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy, musculoskeletal ultrasound and stretching. Many patients who have inflammatory conditions can benefit from working with a local physiotherapist. People with inflammatory conditions such as psoriatic arthritis, pseudogout, osteoarthritis and giant cell arteritis may work with a local rheumatologist, who is trained in treating conditions that affect the joints, muscles and bones.

If you’re recovering from a surgery such as a knee replacement you may work with a local physiotherapist during your surgical rehab and recovery; if you have rheumatoid arthritis, you may work with them to manage pain and improve mobility. If you’d like more information about how a local physiotherapist can help you with your arthritis, gout, shoulder arthritis, thumb arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis or other inflammatory condition, start by talking to your local family physician or local rheumatologist. Before you can begin, your physical therapist will do an evaluation. You may not think of this as a typical treatment, but it's an integral part of creating a physiotherapy plan to get to the root of the problem.

A lot of times we come across people that get motivated and excited to go out there and train and the question I always ask is ôare you fit enough to train? Sometimes, when people do get motivated to go do these things, predisposing imbalances, strength issues, and flexibility issues just drop them off the other end. People can end up with chronic repetitive injuries that they didn't have before they started, and all it took was a predisposing factor to be pushed a little bit further and bring up these issues.

They can do a fitness assessment for you and figure out these things before they happen. You don't have to be in pain to see a physiotherapist - just like you go to your dental hygienist to clean your teeth when you don't have tooth pain, you can see a physiotherapist to find out if your wheels are aligned, if there is enough air in all tires, or if you're functioning on a flat tire.

Physiotherapists are trainers with additional training in restoring function to patients who have suffered a sports injury. A sports medicine physician may work in a clinic, hospital, personal fitness centre or directly with child or adult athletes. They often work with physiotherapists, athletic therapists and kinesiologists.

While there are too many to list here, here are some of the sports injuries you may seek help from a sports medicine doctor for. They can also educate you on injury prevention, sports nutrition and exercise. 

• ACL injury: an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament in the knee, which is located in the middle of the knee joint.
• MCL injury: an injury to the medial collateral ligament of the knee. The medial collateral ligament is a structure that runs along the medial side of the knee.
• Concussion: a type of traumatic brain injury typically caused by a bump or blow to the head.
• Foot fracture: falling from a height or suffering a twisting injury in sport can easily lead to this injury.
• Shoulder dislocation: occurs primarily in the younger, active athletic population and can lead to recurring dislocations. 
• Muscle sprains and strains: soft tissue injury that can affect many part of the body, such as the ankle, wrist and knee. 
• Tendonitis: an injury that causes a tendon to swell up.