Physiotherapy is a science-based healthcare profession that promotes recovery in illness, injury or disability. It aims to restore movement and functional ability to the person’s full potential. Physiotherapy is an independent profession where practitioners make their own treatment decisions and clinical judgments. They constantly reassess the results of their treatments and adjust their approach.

Physiotherapists use their knowledge and skills to improve a range of conditions associated with different systems of the body, such as:

• Neurological (stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease)
• Neuromusculoskeletal (back pain, whiplash associated disorder, sports injuries, arthritis)
• Cardiovascular (chronic heart disease, rehabilitation after heart attack)
• Respiratory (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis).

Physiotherapists focus on both prevention and rehabilitation. Treatment can be for problems caused by injury, disease or disability. Here are some examples:

• Neck and back pain caused by problems in the muscles and skeleton
• Problems in the bones, joints, muscles and ligaments, such as arthritis and the after-effects of amputation
• Lung problems such as asthma
• Disability as a result of heart problems
• Pelvic issues, such as bladder and bowel problems related to childbirth
• Loss of mobility because of trauma to the brain or spine, or due to diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis
• Fatigue, pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of muscle strength, for example during cancer treatment, or palliative care

Physiotherapists usually recommend movement and exercise to help improve your mobility and function. This may include:

• exercises designed to improve movement and strength in a specific part of the body – these usually need to be repeated regularly for a set length of time
• activities that involve moving your whole body, such as walking or swimming – these can help if you're recovering from an operation or injury that affects your mobility
• advice and exercises to help you increase or maintain your physical activity – advice will be given on the importance of keeping active, and how to do this in a safe, effective way
• providing mobility aids – such as crutches or a walking stick to help you move around

Manual therapy is a technique where a physiotherapist uses their hands to manipulate, mobilize and massage the body tissues. This can help:

• relieve pain and stiffness
• improve blood circulation
• help fluid drain more efficiently from parts of the body
• improve the movement of different parts of the body
• promote relaxation

Manual therapy can be used to treat specific problems, such as back pain, but may also be useful for a range of conditions thataffect the bones, joints or muscles.

For example, massage may improve quality of life for some people with serious or long-term conditions by reducing levels of anxiety and improving sleep quality. Manual techniques are also used to help certain lung conditions.