What is Physiotherapy?

Physiotherapy is a primary care, autonomous, client-focused health profession dedicated to:

• Improving and maintaining functional independence and physical performance
• Preventing and managing pain, physical impairments, disabilities and limits to participation
• Promoting fitness, health and wellness

What do Physiotherapists?

Physiotherapists provide assessment, treatment and education for a wide range of health problems to ensure you make the most of your lifestyle. As people live longer and busier lives than ever before, it's not surprising that our bodies occasionally need assistance to stay in good working order. Physiotherapists can recommend the best way to treat problems with your muscles, bones and joints, circulatory, respiratory or nervous system. Physiotherapists can also advise you on ways to prevent potential health problems from occurring before they arise.

Every year physiotherapists assist thousands of Canadians of all ages, from babies to the elderly, in preventing and managing the effects of congenital diseases, illness, chronic diseases, neurological conditions, accidents and the stresses and strains of everyday life.

Physiotherapy – How it Works

Physiotherapy involves using a variety of techniques to help your muscles, joints, heart and lungs work to their potential. Physiotherapists work in partnership with individuals of all ages to break down barriers impeding physical function. Physiotherapy can help individuals living with congenital or chronic diseases or other debilitating conditions and can assist those recovering from: surgery; illness; neurological conditions such as stroke; injury; industrial or motor vehicle accidents; or age related conditions. The practice of physiotherapy is drug-free.

Fundamental to a physiotherapists' approach is an appreciation of your role in your own care. Physiotherapists work with you to integrate your care into your lifestyle. They are skilled in providing treatment, preventative advice, rehabilitation and care for people with long-term or terminal illness and will develop a full treatment plan to suit your unique needs.

Physiotherapists are university educated, regulated health professionals that play an important role within your health care team. To ensure physiotherapists across the country apply consistently high standards, the Canadian Physiotherapy Association, the Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators and the physiotherapy colleges of each province regulate the practice of physiotherapists in the public interest.

Physiotherapy Department Logo

The Physiotherapy Department logo was created to mark the centenary of physiotherapy at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in 2002.
The three dark blue figures represent the range of patients with whom physiotherapists at work. Patients are depicted undertaking activities associated with their physiotherapy care – education, therapy and exercise programs aimed at improving their mobility, function and independence. The sequence of patients represents some of the stages of recovery from illness or injury in which physiotherapy is involved.
The physiotherapist is represented by the pale blue figure in the background of the image, this colour and position indicating that the focus of physiotherapy is the patient rather than the therapist. Physiotherapists do not merely apply techniques to patients but strive to enable the active participation of patients in their health care. As such the physiotherapist's arms are positioned to indicate that the role of physiotherapy encompasses support, facilitation and motivation.
Equipment used by physiotherapists is also represented in the image. The circle depicts both a wheelchair that provides mobility, and a therapy ball that provides a dynamic challenge to improve balance and stability. The intersecting lines symbolise a stable base from which movement is facilitated, and the extension of the central patient's arm represents a walking stick, used to enhance independence. This equipment is likewise depicted in subtle pale blue, indicating that they are aids to therapy and patient function rather than the focus of physiotherapy.
In creating and using this logo we aim to embody the activity and philosophy of the Physiotherapy Department in maximising the health and well being of the people we serve.