When to see a physio: A full-body guide

Physiotherapists are registered healthcare practitioners trained in the function and movement of the human body. [1] They support people in their recovery from injury, they can help lessen bodily pain and stiffness, and they can improve mobility and prevent issues from being exacerbated – using manual therapy, targeted exercises, joint mobilisation, education and other techniques. [2]

Best of all, you don’t need a GP referral to see a physiotherapist in Australia – they’re first-contact practitioners, meaning you can book an appointment at any time. [2] It’s worthwhile being proactive about visiting a physio, as any worries you might have can be managed before they turn into painful – and expensive – problems down the track.

But knowing the circumstances in which to see a physio versus a doctor isn’t always obvious. As a guide, you might want to visit a physiotherapist if:

• You have pain that’s lasted more than a few days and isn’t improving with rest.
• An injury is limiting your ability to work or exercise normally.
• You’re recovering from surgery and need to rebuild your strength or mobility.
• You have a recurring issue that keeps coming back (e.g. a sensitive knee or stiff shoulder).
• You want to prevent the chance of injury – especially if you’re increasing your activity levels or starting a new sport.
• You’ve been referred by your GP as part of a chronic disease management plan.

Find a physiotherapist near you and book an appointment today.

When to see a physiotherapist: broken down by issue

Physiotherapists can specialise in lots of different areas – everything from musculoskeletal and sports injuries to neurological conditions and rehabilitation. [1] How an issue presents itself and what it needs will depend on things like your age, activity levels, existing health conditions and more.

Bear in mind that this information is a guide only. If you’re unsure whether your symptoms warrant a visit to a physio, it’s always better to be on the safe side rather than pushing through and risking making things worse.

When to see a physio after an injury

Not every bump or strain needs treatment from a physio, but some injuries will benefit from early intervention by a professional. Some examples of when you might want to consider booking in is if:

• You heard or felt a pop, crack or snap at the time of injury.
• Swelling or bruising is substantial or hasn’t subsided after 48 hours.
• You can’t put weight on the affected area or your range of motion has noticeably lessened.
• Pain is getting worse rather than getting better over the first few days.
• You’ve injured the same area before and are worried about reinjury.

A physiotherapist will be able to establish the extent of your injury, give you a diagnosis and put together a recovery plan – including hands-on treatment and strengthening exercises, as well as advice on how to return safely to your normal activities.

When to see a sports physiotherapist

Sports physiotherapists specialise in exercise and sport-related injuries and performance. You might seek one out if:

• You’ve sustained an acute sports injury (e.g. torn ligament, muscle strain, dislocation).
• You’re dealing with an ongoing overuse injury that’s impacting your training.
• You want a biomechanical assessment to improve your technique or reduce the risk of injury.
• You’re returning to sport after surgery or a lengthy time off and want a structured rehabilitation program.

Sports physios know the demands of athletic performance and can tweak your treatment to the specific movements and loads your sport relies on.

When to see a physio for back pain

Back pain is a common reason for Australians to visit a physiotherapist. [1] You might want to see a physio if:

• Your back pain has lasted more than a few days and isn’t easing with rest or over-the-counter pain relief.
• Pain is radiating into your buttocks, hips or legs.
• You’re experiencing stiffness that limits your ability to bend, twist and/or stand comfortably.
• Your back pain is recurring – it settles down but keeps coming back.
• You sit for long periods of time at work and have noticed increasing discomfort.

A physiotherapist can catch what’s driving your back pain – it might be down to poor posture, muscle weakness, joint stiffness or something else entirely. Then they can give you targeted exercises and manual therapy to address the issue, along with longer-term prevention strategies.

When to see a physiotherapist for neck pain

Like back pain, neck pain is also very common and can stem from a number of different factors, including poor posture, stress, prolonged screen use, bad sleeping positions and more. [3] See a physiotherapist if:

• Neck pain or stiffness has continued for more than a few days.
• You’re experiencing headaches that seem to originate from your neck.
• Pain is radiating into your shoulders, arms, hands or fingers.
• Your neck movement is greatly restricted – you can’t turn your head with any amount of comfort.
• You’ve had a whiplash injury from a car accident or similar impact (e.g. sports impact injury).

Physiotherapists can use a combination of manual therapy, postural correction, dry needling and strengthening exercises to relieve neck pain and improve the underlying cause. [3]

When to see a physio for knee pain

Book a physio appointment for knee pain if:

• Pain is limiting your ability to walk, climb stairs, squat, etc.
• Your knee feels unstable, locks, clicks or gives way.
• There’s swelling around the knee joint.
• You have pain that gets worse with activity and doesn’t settle with rest.
• You’ve been diagnosed with osteoarthritis and want to manage it through exercise.

Physiotherapy for knee pain focuses on strengthening the muscles around the joint – especially the quadriceps and glutes – to boost support and reduce the load on your knee. [1]

For runner’s knee, here’s when to see a physio:

Runner’s knee (patellofemoral pain syndrome) is pain at the front of or around the kneecap. [4] Despite the name, it doesn’t only happen to runners – it can appear in anyone who does activities that involve repetitive knee bending, like cycling, squatting or climbing stairs. [4] See a physio if:

• You have a dull, aching pain around or behind the kneecap that only gets worse with activity.
• Pain flares up after prolonged sitting with bent knees.
• You notice grinding, clicking or a rubbing sensation when bending your knee.
• The pain isn’t improving with rest alone.

Runner’s knee doesn’t always need physiotherapy to improve – mild cases can settle with changes to your activity level and rest. [5] But if pain persists or keeps returning, a physiotherapist can assess any contributing factors (e.g. muscle weakness or movement patterns) and prescribe a targeted strengthening program to help resolve the problem. [5]

When to see a physio for shin splints

Shin splints (medial tibial stress syndrome) is pain along the shinbone (tibia) caused by repeated stress and inflammation in the muscles and tissues of the lower leg. [6] It’s a common ailment in runners, dancers and anyone who has recently upped their training load. [7] Book a physio visit if:

• Pain along the front or inside of your shin persists beyond a week or two of rest.
• Shin pain lingers even when you’re not exercising.
• Pain becomes sharp or hyper-localised, which could be a sign of a stress fracture [6]
• The issue keeps coming back whenever you return to activity.
• Mild shin splints will generally settle with rest, ice and a slow return to exercise. [6] But if the pain is ongoing or recurring, a physiotherapist can look at your biomechanics and training load to determine why the issue keeps flaring – and help you build lower-leg strength to stop it from coming back.

When to see a physio for a sprained ankle

A sprained ankle happens when the ligaments supporting the joint are stretched or torn, usually from rolling or twisting the foot. [1] See a physio if:

• You can’t put weight on your ankle or walk without a lot of pain.
• Swelling and bruising are substantial or worsening.
• The ankle feels unstable or gives way when you try to put weight on it.
• Pain hasn’t improved much within the first week.
• You’ve sprained the same ankle before.

A physiotherapist can diagnose the severity of the sprain and help guide your recovery with progressive strengthening and balance exercises. They can also help to restore stability to minimise the chances of reinjury. [1]

Find physiotherapists near you on Healthengine

If your symptoms aren’t listed above but something doesn’t feel right, checking in with a physiotherapist is never a bad idea. Physios are trained to manage a huge variety of musculoskeletal, neurological and movement-related conditions – and early intervention can stop a small issue from turning into a much bigger, more painful one. [2]

Healthengine connects you with a wide network of qualified physiotherapists around Australia.

Search by postcode to find a provider close to you, check their availability and make a booking – all in the one place.

 

References:

1. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/physiotherapy

2. https://choose.physio/what-is-physio

3. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/neck-pain

4. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/patellofemoral-pain-syndrome-runners-knee

5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK561507/

6. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/shin-splints

7. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/shin-splints