Acronyms and Short Forms Glossary Download

• Introduction
• What is Rehab
  • Occupational therapists
  • Physical therapists
  • Speech Language Pathologists
  • Other rehab staff
  • Complementary therapies
• Rehab & Physical Issues
• Rehab & Emotional Issues
• Rehab & Cognitive Issues
• Rehab & Activities
• Accessing Services
• Working with Rehab
• Sticking with Treatment
• Self-management
• Rehabilitation Resources

Physical Therapists (also called Physiotherapists)

Physical therapists work with clients to improve overall function and mobility.  They may focus on different parts of the body, such as the lungs, muscles, nerves, and joints, so you can move more easily. Physical therapy treatments aim to decrease pain and swelling, and improve movement and fitness.  This will help you to walk, do stairs, and engage in work, and other activities that are important to you.

List of services offered (please note that this list is not exhaustive)

• Assessment of;
• muscle and joint injury
• muscle weakness and tightness
• problems breathing and coughing up fluids
• decreased fitness or fatigue
• problems with  balance and muscle control
• wounds and sores
• chronic pain
• problems with mobility (e.g., walking, standing up/sitting down, climbing stairs, etc.)
• need for helping tools, such as walking aids (e.g., canes, walkers), orthotics or braces
• the home, to discover any barriers to moving about safely
• Treatments include:
• Working with you to develop a reasonable set of short- and long-term goals
• Creating personalized exercise plans to restore or maintain normal functioning after injury or illness
• Educating you to prevent health-related challenges from getting worse.
• Helping you make plans to help you improve your mobility (e.g., walking, climbing stairs, and getting out to doctors’ appointments, grocery store).
• Providing soft tissue therapy techniques, such as massage.
• Providing joint therapy techniques, such as spinal and joint mobilization and manipulation.
• Providing acupuncture and electrotherapeutic therapy techniques, such as TENS or ultrasound.
• Providing education on how to prevent injury and promote health.
• Helping you get necessary tools (e.g., canes, walkers, orthotics, braces).
• Helping you to remove or work around barriers in the home.
• Helping you connect with organizations and resources that can help you live a richer life.

Please refer to the “Description of Physiotherapy” section of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (www.physiotherapy.ca) website for further information.