What Is Physiotherapy?

Potential Risks

While physiotherapy is generally very safe and effective, there are some potential risks patients should discuss with their doctors and physiotherapist. The primary side effect patients experience during and after a physiotherapy session is discomfort. This could be felt as simply minor soreness after the session. Some specific exercises might also cause temporary pain during or after a particular movement, especially if the patient has not regularly moved part of their body for a prolonged period. Patients should always let their physiotherapist know if they are experiencing pain, and the physiotherapist will do everything they can to minimize this. For example, the physiotherapist might be able to use a modified form of a particular exercise or move the patient's limb while they are in a lying or sitting position. Individuals having physiotherapy after a foot, knee, or hip operation have reduced strength in their lower limbs, and they are at an increased risk of falling during a treatment session. To minimize this risk, patients recovering from surgery often work with two physiotherapists in the same session; the therapists work together to help the patient sit up, stand, transfer, and walk.