Common Conditions Physios Treat

When most people think of physiotherapy, they picture athletes recovering from injuries or patients learning to walk again after surgery. While we certainly help with both of these, the reality is that physiotherapy addresses a far broader range of conditions than you might expect. Whether you’re dealing with chronic pain, recovering from an operation, or simply want to move better in your daily life, there’s likely a way we can help.

Let’s explore the most common conditions we see at Recover Physiotherapy and explain how physiotherapy can make a real difference to your recovery and long-term wellbeing.

The Big Three: Back Pain, Neck Pain, and Shoulder Problems

Back Pain

Lower back pain is by far the most common reason people seek physiotherapy treatment. Whether it’s a sudden sharp pain that appeared after lifting something heavy, or a nagging ache that’s been building for months, back pain can be incredibly disruptive to your daily life.

We treat back pain through a combination of targeted exercises, manual therapy, and education about posture and movement patterns. Our approach isn’t just about getting you pain-free today: it’s about giving you the tools and knowledge to prevent future episodes. Through strengthening your core muscles, improving your flexibility, and teaching you proper lifting techniques, we can help break the cycle of recurring back pain.

Neck Pain and Headaches

Your neck bears the weight of your head all day, every day, and in our modern world of desk jobs and smartphone use, it’s under more strain than ever. Neck pain often comes with tension headaches, creating a frustrating cycle where pain in one area triggers discomfort in another.

Physiotherapy can address both the mechanical issues causing your neck pain and the tension patterns contributing to your headaches. We use manual therapy to restore normal movement to stiff joints, exercises to strengthen weak muscles, and postural education to address the root causes of your discomfort.

Shoulder Problems

From frozen shoulder to rotator cuff injuries, shoulder problems can severely limit your ability to perform everyday tasks. Reaching overhead, getting dressed, or even sleeping comfortably can become challenging when your shoulder isn’t functioning properly.

For conditions like frozen shoulder, we focus on gradually restoring range of motion whilst managing pain levels. With rotator cuff injuries and shoulder pain more generally, we emphasise strengthening the supporting muscles and correcting movement patterns that may have contributed to the problem.

Joint Pain and Arthritis

Knee Pain

Your knees take a tremendous amount of force every day: up to seven times your body weight when you’re climbing stairs. Whether you’re dealing with arthritis, a sports injury, or general wear and tear, knee pain can significantly impact your mobility and independence.

Physiotherapy for knee problems focuses on strengthening the muscles around the joint, particularly your quadriceps and glutes, whilst improving flexibility and movement patterns. We also address any issues with your hip or ankle function, as problems in these areas often contribute to knee pain.

Hip Pain and Problems

Hip problems can cause pain not just in the hip itself, but also in your groin, thigh, or even your knee. Conditions like hip arthritis, bursitis, or hip flexor tightness can all benefit from targeted physiotherapy intervention.

Our treatment approach typically includes exercises to improve hip mobility, strengthen the surrounding muscles, and address any compensatory movement patterns you may have developed. We also provide education about activity modification and pacing to help you manage your symptoms effectively.

Sports Injuries and Active Lifestyle Problems

Even if you’re not a professional athlete, sports injuries can happen to anyone who’s physically active. From weekend warriors to regular gym-goers, we see a wide range of activity-related injuries.

Tennis Elbow and Golf Elbow

Despite their names, you don’t need to play tennis or golf to develop these conditions. Tennis elbow and golf elbow are overuse injuries that can affect anyone who performs repetitive arm movements: from painters and carpenters to office workers who spend long hours typing.

Treatment focuses on reducing pain and inflammation whilst gradually loading the affected tendons to promote healing. We also address any contributing factors such as poor ergonomics or technique issues in your sport or work activities.

Plantar Fasciitis

That stabbing pain in your heel when you take your first steps in the morning could be plantar fasciitis. This common condition affects the thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of your foot, and whilst it can be incredibly painful, it responds well to physiotherapy treatment.

We use a combination of hands on treatments (manual therapy), strengthening work for your foot and calf muscles, and education about footwear and activity modification. In some cases, we might also use techniques like taping or recommend orthotics to support your recovery.

Post-Surgery Rehabilitation

If you’ve recently had surgery: whether it’s a joint replacement, ligament repair, or any other procedure that affects your movement: post-surgery rehabilitation is crucial for optimal recovery.

Every surgical procedure and every patient is different, which is why we tailor our rehabilitation programmes to your specific needs and goals. We work closely with your surgical team to ensure our treatment plan aligns with your healing timeline and any precautions you need to follow.

The goals of post-surgical physiotherapy typically include reducing pain and swelling, restoring range of motion, rebuilding strength, and helping you return to your normal activities as safely and efficiently as possible.

Specialist Conditions You Might Not Expect

Dizziness and Balance Problems

Problems with balance and dizziness can be incredibly frightening and disabling. Whether it’s vertigo, inner ear problems, or balance issues following a fall or illness, vestibular rehabilitation can help restore your confidence and stability.

We use specific exercises designed to retrain your balance system and reduce dizziness symptoms. These might include eye movement exercises, balance challenges, and habituation exercises that gradually expose you to movements that trigger your symptoms in a controlled way.

Jaw Problems (TMJ)

Temporomandibular joint disorder can cause pain in your jaw, difficulty opening your mouth, and even headaches. TMJ treatment through physiotherapy focuses on improving jaw mobility, reducing muscle tension, and addressing any postural factors that might be contributing to your symptoms.

Chronic Conditions and Long-Term Health Issues

We also work with people managing long-term health conditions. Whether it’s helping someone with arthritis maintain their mobility, supporting recovery from Long COVID, or working with older adults through age-related rehabilitation, physiotherapy can play a valuable role in managing chronic conditions and maintaining quality of life.

Our Approach to Treatment

At Recover, we don’t just focus on where it hurts. We look at your whole body and how it moves together. Poor posture, muscle imbalances, and movement patterns developed over years can all contribute to pain and dysfunction.

Our treatment might include hands-on manual therapy, specific exercises tailored to your condition and goals, education about your problem and how to manage it, and techniques like myofascial release to address muscle tension and restrictions.

We also offer treatments for elbow, wrist and hand pain and ankle pain, ensuring we can address problems throughout your body.

The key thing to remember is that every person is different. What works for one patient might not be the right approach for another, even if they have the same diagnosis. That’s why we spend time getting to know you, your lifestyle, your goals, and your specific challenges before developing your treatment plan.

When to Seek Help

You don’t need to wait until pain becomes severe before seeking physiotherapy treatment. In fact, early intervention often leads to better outcomes and faster recovery times. If you’re experiencing persistent pain, reduced mobility, or any of the conditions we’ve discussed, it’s worth having an assessment to see how we can help.

Remember, physiotherapy isn’t just about treating problems after they occur: it’s also about preventing future issues and helping you move better in all areas of your life. Whether you’re recovering from an injury, managing a chronic condition, or simply want to stay active and healthy as you age, there’s likely a way physiotherapy can support your goals.