A common misconception is that physiotherapists only deal with injuries to backs, necks, joints, muscles and other 'sports' type injuries. While many physios certainly do treat these types of conditions, there are other areas in which physiotherapists are trained and can help you.

For simple explanation, physiotherapy can be divided into three broad areas.

• Musculoskeletal physiotherapy
• Cardiothoracic physiotherapy
• Neurological physiotherapy

Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy (Orthopaedics).
As the name suggests, this area deals with muscles, bones and joints, and is perhaps the most widely known. Musculoskeletal physiotherapists can deal with many acute or chronic conditions such as:

• back and neck pain or stiffness
• muscle strains/contusions
• joint sprains/stiffness/instability
• arthritis
• muscle imbalances/weakness
• muscle spasm
• tendonitis/bursitis
• rehabilitation following occupational injury, surgery, sporting injuries.

The musculoskeletal physiotherapist uses a variety of different treatment methods to help speed up the healing process and reduce the likelihood of the same thing happening again. Some of the techniques include:

• manual techniques (massage, joint mobilisation, manipulation, stretches)
• electrotherapy (ultrasound, interferential, TENS, shortwave, microwave, laser)
• heat and cold
• therapeutic exercise
• correction of posture, lifting techniques, sporting techniques which contribute to the problem
• taping, bandaging, splinting
• hydrotherapy

The musculoskeletal physiotherapist is not only concerned with treating the injury, but with finding the cause and correcting any biomechanical factors which may contribute to the injury.

Cardiothoracic Physiotherapy.
Cardiothoracic physiotherapists deal primarily with the function of the cardiorespiratory system. The cardiothoracic physiotherapist, often working in the acute hospital, deals with a variety of situations, some of them being:

• Chronic Obstructive Airways Disease (Emphysema, Asthma, Chronic Bronchitis)
• Following general surgery
• General medical conditions
• Following cardiac surgery
• Following most types of thoracic surgery
• Intensive Care Unit patients

The cardiothoracic physiotherapist aims to optimise the function of the cardiothoracic system and patient comfort, resulting in increased exercise tolerance, a reduced chance of developing complications such as chest infections, reduced shortness of breath, and a reduced length of stay in hospital.

Some of the treatment techniques at the physiotherapists disposal are:

• breathing techniques either to reduce shortness of breath or increase lung expansion
• patient positioning
• sputum clearance with percussions, vibrations, coughing, deep breathing, suction
• mobilising, sitting out of bed, or walking
• oxygen therapy
• mechanical ventilators
• medications
• exercise programs

Neurological Physiotherapy.
Neurological Physiotherapy, as the name suggests, is concerned with disorders of the nervous system. The neurological physiotherapist is involved in the assessment and treatment of patients suffering conditions such as:

• acquired brain injuries/head injuries
• strokes
• brain surgery
• Parkinson's disease
• multiple sclerosis
• Guillian-Barre syndrome
• balance disorders
• spinal cord injuries
• other neurological conditions

The neurological physiotherapist is involved in determining how these conditions affect the patients movement and function, and implementing strategies to regain maximum function, depending on the type of disorder.