Physiotherapists are specialized in restoring, maintaining or increasing physical mobility, strength and function with exercise, massage and electrotherapy. They are medically trained to treat musculoskeletal problems.

One can see a physiotherapist for back pain, knee pain, paralysis, arthritis, aches, sprains, rehabilitation after surgery etc but if there is any serious injury, uncontrollable pain, pain that is waking you up at night, redness or swelling around a joint or body parts it is best to get urgent medical care.A doctor may refer you to a physiotherapist post surgery, or when there is chronic pain.

Physiotherapist is also called a physical therapist. These are synonymous terms and can be used interchangeably. Both treat musculoskeletal disorders with controlled physical manipulation.

A physiotherapist is educated in muscular anatomy, but they are not trained in operative procedures, so they can not perform surgery.

Physiotherapists are trained in manual therapy to massage, mobile and manipulate the muscle and joints, but they do not study medicines; hence they are not licensed to prescribe medicines.