Preventative treatment is often an area that is overlooked in many regions of healthcare, including physiotherapy. A common misconception about physiotherapy is that it is treatment needed only after an injury or condition arises, when in fact preventative physiotherapy can be just as beneficial. Physiotherapists and exercise physiologists can be a crucial component in rehabilitation to prevent conditions such as sport injuries, falls and pain arising from work.

Read on to understand why prevention is so important and how physiotherapists or exercises physiologists can help you.

What is Prevention?

As the term suggests, prevention in healthcare refers to treatment aimed at reducing the likelihood of an injury or condition to occur or worsen. Preventative rehabilitation is important not only to minimise the risk of an adverse event, but also because:

• The complications following an injury or a health condition can be severe and challenging to recover from. For example, a fall can lead to minor injuries like a scrape, but also may potentially lead to more serious injuries like a hip fracture.
• In some cases, having the initial injury or condition can increase the risk of the same or similar injury occurring again due to potential physical changes (e.g. joint stiffness following an ankle sprain). 
• Some conditions, such as work-related neck pain or obesity, can become long-lasting and chronic. In many cases, chronic pain or conditions often require extended recovery timeframes and can be a challenging rehabilitation journey.
• In cases like surgery or pregnancy, optimising the body’s function in the pre-operative or pre-natal period will likely ensure a smoother journey in the post-operative or post-natal phase.

Therefore, regardless of whether you are physically healthy or have a pre-existing condition, it is important that we continue to optimise our health and lifestyle to prevent the chance of injury or illness. This is where our physiotherapists and exercise physiologists at UniquePhysio can help you!

What Can A Physiotherapist Or Exercise Physiologist Do For Prevention?

There is no right or wrong answer for what a physiotherapist will recommend for preventative rehabilitation as this heavily depends on the individual and their presenting condition. Treatment can range from something as small as recommending a few modifications at work, to implementing an exercise program in preparation for a sport. Some of the more common areas that physiotherapists can assist with prevention include:

• Sports conditioning and injury prevention.
• Falls prevention.
• Work-related conditioning and posture/technique.
• Pre-natal physiotherapy.
• Weight and/or diabetes management.
• Pre-operative rehabilitation for surgeries (e.g. joint replacements).

A preventative rehabilitation program with your physiotherapist may include a variety of techniques, such as:

• Exercise prescription or modifications.
• Exercise/rehabilitation classes.
• Lifestyle advice/modifications.
• Education on health conditions and management.
• Posture and/or ergonomic advice.
• Manual therapy.
• Prescription of assistive aids or equipment (e.g. taping, back cushion for work).

Book with our physiotherapists or exercise physiologist today and we can provide guidance on how to optimise your health with a preventative rehabilitation program!