🩺 Physiotherapy for Pain Relief: How It Helps and What to Expect
Pain can be frustrating, exhausting, and limiting. Whether it’s a long-standing back problem, a sports injury, or everyday stiffness from work, finding effective treatment is essential. One of the most widely recommended options is physiotherapy.
As an NHS-trained physiotherapist, I’ve seen first-hand how physiotherapy can transform people’s lives — reducing pain, restoring movement, and helping them get back to the things they enjoy. But many people still wonder: What does physiotherapy involve, and what can I expect from a session?
Let’s break it down.
1. What Is Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy (or “physical therapy”) is a healthcare profession focused on restoring movement and function when someone is affected by injury, illness, or disability. It’s not just about treating pain — it’s about addressing the root cause, improving strength and mobility, and preventing problems from coming back.
Physiotherapists use a mix of:
Exercise therapy – tailored exercises to improve strength, flexibility, and stability.
Manual therapy – hands-on techniques like joint mobilisation or massage.
Education & advice – guidance on posture, activity, and lifestyle changes.
Adjunct therapies – such as acupuncture, cupping, or electrotherapy, depending on the clinic.
2. How Physiotherapy Helps With Pain
Pain can come from many sources: injured muscles, irritated nerves, stiff joints, or even stress and poor posture. Physiotherapy uses different approaches depending on the type of pain:
🔹 Back and Neck Pain
Strengthening core and postural muscles
Improving spinal mobility
Teaching ergonomic strategies for work
👉 Research in the BMJ (Qaseem et al., 2017) supports exercise-based physiotherapy as a first-line treatment for low back pain, often more effective than relying on medication alone.
🔹 Sports Injuries
Progressive exercise rehab to restore strength and flexibility
Manual therapy to reduce stiffness and aid healing
Return-to-sport planning to prevent re-injury
🔹 Joint Pain and Arthritis
Targeted exercises to maintain mobility
Advice on pacing activity to manage flare-ups
Adjunct therapies (e.g., acupuncture) for additional pain relief
🔹 Chronic Pain
Physiotherapists use a holistic approach — focusing on movement, education, and self-management strategies. NICE guidelines recommend physiotherapy (including exercise and acupuncture) as part of management for chronic primary pain (NICE, 2021).
3. What to Expect From a Physiotherapy Session
If it’s your first time seeing a physiotherapist, here’s what usually happens:
Assessment & Conversation
We’ll discuss your symptoms, history, and goals.
This may include questions about work, activity levels, and lifestyle.
Physical Examination
Testing movement, strength, flexibility, and posture.
Special tests may be used to identify specific issues.
Personalised Treatment Plan
Tailored exercises
Hands-on therapy if needed
Advice on how to manage symptoms day-to-day
Treatment
This may include a mix of manual therapy, guided exercise, acupuncture, or cupping (depending on your needs).
Next Steps
You’ll be given clear guidance on what to do at home.
If follow-up is needed, sessions are usually weekly or fortnightly.
Patients often leave feeling reassured, empowered, and clearer on the path to recovery.
4. Evidence Behind Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is one of the most evidence-supported interventions for musculoskeletal problems.
👉 A systematic review in The Lancet (Hartvigsen et al., 2018) found that exercise and education — two cornerstones of physiotherapy — are among the most effective treatments for back pain.
👉 Another review in Cochrane Database (Fransen et al., 2015) found that physiotherapy exercise programmes significantly reduced pain and improved function in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
These studies highlight physiotherapy’s strength: it’s active, not passive. It empowers patients to take control of their recovery.
5. Who Should See a Physiotherapist?
Physiotherapy can help a wide range of people, including:
Athletes recovering from injury or optimising performance
Office workers with postural pain in the neck or back
Manual workers with repetitive strain or lifting injuries
Older adults managing arthritis or balance problems
Anyone with long-term pain that hasn’t improved with rest
6. Benefits Beyond Pain Relief
While reducing pain is a key goal, physiotherapy also provides wider benefits:
Restores independence and confidence in daily activities
Prevents recurrence of injuries
Improves strength, mobility, and flexibility
Enhances long-term health and quality of life
For many patients, physiotherapy isn’t just about treating a symptom — it’s about getting back to living fully.
🌟 Key Takeaway
Physiotherapy is more than just pain relief — it’s a personalised, evidence-based approach to restoring movement, function, and confidence.
Whether you’re dealing with an injury, chronic pain, or everyday stiffness, physiotherapy can help you understand your condition, take control of recovery, and get back to doing what you love.
📞 Interested in physiotherapy sessions? Contact JN Physiotherapy today to book your appointment.
📚 References
Qaseem A, et al. (2017). Noninvasive treatments for acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain: A clinical practice guideline. BMJ, 356:j128.
Hartvigsen J, et al. (2018). What low back pain is and why we need to pay attention. The Lancet, 391(10137): 2356–2367.
Fransen M, et al. (2015). Exercise for osteoarthritis of the knee: a Cochrane systematic review. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, (1): CD004376.
NICE Guideline NG193: Chronic pain (primary and secondary) in over 16s. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 2021.