Recovery and Outlook Overview What is physical therapy (physiotherapy)? Physical therapy, or physiotherapy, is treatment that helps you improve how your body performs physical movements. It can be part of a generalized pain management plan or a specific treatment for an injury or health condition. It’s common to need physical therapy after many types of surgery, too. You might also need physical therapy to help prevent injuries before they happen. How long you’ll need physical therapy? depends on which injuries or health conditions you have and which area of your body needs help moving better. Some people only need a few weeks of physiotherapy to help with a short-term issue. Others need it for months or years to manage symptoms of a chronic (long-term) condition. What does physical therapy treat? Most people start physical therapy after a healthcare provider diagnoses an injury or condition. Examples include: Sports injuries. Neck pain. Back pain. Knee pain. Hip pain. Carpal tunnel syndrome. Tendinopathy (including tendinitis). Rotator cuff tears. Knee ligament injuries (like ACL tears). Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. Concussions. Strokes. Spinal cord injuries. Traumatic brain injuries. You might need physiotherapy to manage a chronic condition, including: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Cerebral palsy. Multiple sclerosis (MS). Muscular dystrophy. Parkinson’s disease. Cystic fibrosis. What are the types of physiotherapy? Physical therapy is a combination of hands-on techniques (a therapist moving part of your body) and exercises or movements you perform with a physical therapist’s supervision. Physical therapy can include: Advertisement Stretching. Strength training (with or without weights or exercise equipment). Massage. Heat or cold therapy. Hydrotherapy. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). Physical therapy is usually an outpatient treatment, which means you aren’t staying in a hospital or healthcare facility while you do it. You might start therapy if you’re staying in the hospital after an injury or surgery then continue it after you go home. Depending on where you live and which type of physical therapy you need, you might do your therapy at a specialized clinic, in the hospital or even in your own home. You might be able to do physical therapy with a virtual visit, either on a video call or over the phone (telehealth). Risks / Benefits What are the benefits of physical therapy (physiotherapy)? Physical therapy can work on any system in your body that controls your movement, including your: Musculoskeletal system. Nervous system. Cardiopulmonary system. Integumentary system. Physical therap