What Physiotherapy Is
Physiotherapy is movement-focused rehabilitation. A physiotherapist assesses how a joint, muscle or movement pattern is behaving, forms a working explanation, and builds a plan that usually pairs in-clinic treatment with exercises you do between visits.
The in-clinic part varies a lot by practitioner: manual therapy, loading and strength work, and sometimes modalities like dry needling or shockwave. What stays constant is that the plan is meant to change as you do — a physio who never reassesses isn't doing the job.
What a Session Looks Like
Initial visits usually 45–60 minutes; follow-ups 20–30
Book the initial visit, not a follow-up, if you haven't seen that clinic before — the two are different appointment types and the shorter one won't leave room for an assessment. Expect questions about onset and history, some hands-on and movement testing, and to leave with two or three specific exercises rather than a long list. Wear or bring clothing that lets the relevant joint be seen and moved.
Common Reasons People Book
- A specific injury — ankle, knee, shoulder, back
- Post-surgical rehabilitation
- Pain that has outlasted the point where rest should have fixed it
- Return-to-sport progression after time off
- Vestibular issues and dizziness, with a physio who lists that training
- Pelvic health, which is its own specialisation and its own booking type
Last reviewed 2026-10-04.