If the discomfort from the injury is persistent, even after consulting the general physician and consuming over-the-counter medicines, you should consider a physiotherapy treatment. When you seek the attention of a physiotherapist, he/she may advise you to undergo rehabilitation from the injury that might have occurred during a gym session, attempting a new routine, or postural errors. In a rehabilitation session, the therapist works on regaining your strength and instructs you about the changes to reduce the chances of recurrence of the injury.

Everyone knows that prevention is better than cure, hence if you are thinking to join a gym or indulging in new physical activities, it is advised to contact a physiotherapist for injury prevention. The idea may sound crazy, but pre-rehabilitation is one of the practical ways to keep injuries at bay.

If you have been experiencing pain in the neck and back constantly for a few days and finally decided to buy an ergonomically designed mattress and chairs, thinking that these can help to vanish the pain, you might be right, but partially. Ergonomically designed furniture helps you maintain a good posture, which can rectify such an issue, but it is advisable to see a physiotherapist first, primarily because your posture may not be the only culprit. The pain might be arising from some other serious factors.

A visit to a musculoskeletal physiotherapist will not only help you with the comprehensive assessment but also the appropriate management of the symptoms.

When injured, it is advised to take proper rest. But “rest” should not be comprehended as “not moving” at all. Rest translates to not moving the injured/affected body part painfully. The immobility of a body part can damage it.

Therefore, it is important to move the affected part in a painless way, as movement speeds up the healing process. Further, if the symptoms do not disappear in 72 hours or reoccur after a few days, you must consult a physiotherapist for better treatment. The therapists will do a thorough assessment of the symptoms and provide you with the best care.

No. However, in most cases, people consult a physiotherapist only after the reference/advice from their general physicians, which is fine. But you do not always need an expert’s opinion to visit a physiotherapist. Like your GP, Physiotherapists are also the primary healthcare service provider, so do you not have to seek referrals from your doctor. However, if you have a referral letter from your doctor, make sure to bring it along, so the therapist can track your medical history.

Moreover, you do not have to get done with an MRI or X-RAY scan beforehand. The therapist usually recommends these tests (if required) after your first session of consultation. So, if you are experiencing any acute pain or injury, and feel the need to see a physiotherapist, make the move right away, without a second thought.

If you have been suffering from a physiologic disorder, and want to go for the best physiotherapist for the appropriate management of your symptoms, it can be done with the utmost ease. First of all, begin with the investigation of the qualification of the therapist you are considering. See if the therapist is appropriately qualified and fully accredited. You need to ensure that practitioner is completely insured and complying with the Code of Practice.

Secondly, move forward with the relevant area of their expertise. Simply put, you should find a physiotherapist with the relevant knowledge and education of the problem you are suffering from.

Then move forward with the location. You must consider the location of the clinic, especially in the case of chronic injury and pain. It is not advisable to drive long distances when you are injured. Therefore, if possible, look for a clinic close to your location.

Another important factor to be taken into the consideration is the type of treatments offered by the center. Investigate whether the treatments of your preferences are offered at your selected physiotherapy center. Since physiotherapy is a wide subject, it possesses an array of treatment techniques such as massage, movement etc. Also, make sure to ask for the availability of an alternative method for the treatment.

Lastly, you need to check the availability of the physiotherapist. It is necessary especially when you can wait to get started with the treatment. Make sure to ask about how soon the therapist can start the treatment and decide thereafter.

Physiotherapy covers a huge spectrum, and different kinds of therapies have different benefits. Let’s figure out the major areas covered under physiotherapy.

a) Musculoskeletal physiotherapy: Musculoskeletal physiotherapy works on the restoration or treatment of the musculoskeletal system, which majorly includes ligaments, joints, tendons and bones. So, you can visit musculoskeletal Physiotherapist in case of neck pain, back pain, muscle strain/ sprain, fractures, or certain types of sports injuries. The treatment offered in this kind of therapy focuses on restoring the flexibility and motions of your body. The treatment for musculoskeletal disorder includes massage, heat therapy, ice, a fusion of balance and stretching exercise, cryotherapy, ultrasounds, strength training, electrical muscle stimulation, spine manipulation technique, and joint mobilization.

b) Geriatric Therapy: This kind of therapy is generally needed by older adults. Geriatric involves treating age-related issues, such as arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, osteoporosis, cancer, joint replacement, incontinence, and loss of motion. This type of therapy focuses on restoring mobility & strength, chronic pain reduction, correction of bad posture, improve the overall fitness level of the elderly and enabling them to work with physical limitations.

c) Sports Physiotherapy: Sports therapy is entirely related to elite athletes and sports professionals, who stay in touch with physiotherapists regularly. Sports physiotherapist have a thorough knowledge of the types of strains and work towards reducing muscle tension. The specialists can help in recovery from an injury, enhance the performance, prevent the recurrence of injury. The therapy generally involves stretching, endurance and strengthening exercises, massage and mobility assistance for a speedy recovery.

d) Pediatric Physiotherapy: This type of therapy is generally related to infants, toddlers, children, and teenagers. The therapists assess, prevent, and treat various issues and disorders such as developmental delays, muscle disorder, birth defects, genetic disorders, spina bifida, head trauma, limb deficiencies, orthopedic disabilities, acute injury. The therapy includes therapeutic exercises and advanced treatments to help children with strength restoration, pain reduction, improvement in motor and gross skills, learn the body mechanics for flexibility and balance to allow your kid to live a normal life.

e) Neurological Physiotherapy: As the name suggests, neurological physical therapy aims to correct the condition related to nervous system, such as brain injury, Alzheimer's disease, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and stroke. The therapy enables an individual to restore mobility, and gain a high level of autonomous function for living an independent life. The therapists focus on improving visual balance, along with motor control, enhancing sensation, kinetic link training and more.

The duration and sessions involved in the treatment depend upon the severity of the medical condition. On average, minor injuries may take up to 2-3 physiotherapy sessions, whereas soft tissue injuries may take 6-8 weeks, and individuals with more chronic conditions may wait up to 2-3 months for complete recovery.

The physiotherapists in Delhi can help you with almost all kinds of physical treatments. From pediatric, orthopedic, neurological to geriatric, cardiorespiratory, and overall female health, they cover everything.