What is Physiotherapy?
Learn about physiotherapy, where physiotherapists work, and how they can help keep you moving for life!
For Public
Physiotherapy is a holistic approach to health care lead by professionals who use a patient-centred approach, working autonomously and collaboratively alongside physicians and health care teams.
Physiotherapists use evidence informed knowledge of rehabilitation sciences, anatomy, kinesiology, and physiology to assess, treat, and manage pain, injuries, movement dysfunctions and chronic conditions. The goal of physiotherapy is to empower, promote independence and improve the quality of life for British Columbians across all ages and abilities.
In British Columbia, you can see a physiotherapist without a doctor's referral.
Specifically, physiotherapists can help you with:
- Promoting optimal mobility, physical activity and overall health and wellness;
- Preventing disease, injury, and disability;
- Managing acute and chronic conditions, activity limitations, and participation restrictions;
- Improving and maintaining optimal functional independence and physical performance;
- Rehabilitating injury and the effects of disease or disability with therapeutic exercise programs and other interventions; and
- Educating and planning maintenance and support programs to prevent re-occurrence, re-injury or functional decline.