The Most Common Injuries We See in the Physiotherapy Clinics
Physiotherapists treat an enormous range of conditions, but a handful of issues come through the door again and again. Here's a look at some of the most common ones and how physiotherapy helps with each.
Low back pain
One of the most common reasons people see a physio is lower back pain. Causes of back pain range from muscle strain and disc irritation to joint stiffness or nerve involvement. The good news is that most low back pain responds well to movement-based treatment, and prolonged rest is rarely the answer.
Neck pain and headaches
Neck pain issues are often linked to posture, desk work, stress, or sleeping awkwardly. Neck stiffness can also be a driver of certain types of headache. Physiotherapy including hands-on treatment and targeted exercise can help address neck pain and related headaches.
Shoulder pain
From rotator cuff issues to frozen shoulder and general stiffness, shoulder pain is common across all ages. Because the shoulder is such a mobile joint, a proper physio assessment is important to identify exactly what's driving the pain before starting treatment.
Knee pain
Common presentations of knee pain we see most in the physio clinic include ligament sprains (like ACL or MCL injuries), meniscus issues, patellofemoral (kneecap) pain, and general wear-related discomfort. Knee pain can affect anyone from weekend sportspeople to those simply managing daily activities like stairs.
Ankle sprains
Rolling an ankle is one of the most common injuries around in both sport and everyday life. Left under-rehabilitated, ankle sprains have a high chance of recurring, which is why proper physio-led rehab (not just rest) matters.
Tendon pain (tendinopathy)
Achilles, patellar (jumper's knee), and elbow tendon pain (tennis or golfer's elbow) are common overuse presentations, often linked to a sudden change in activity level. These generally respond well to a graded loading programme created by your physiotherapist.
Post-surgical rehabilitation
Physiotherapy plays a key role after many orthopaedic surgeries - joint replacements, ligament reconstructions, and rotator cuff repairs among them helping restore movement, strength, and function safely. Physio is useful before certain surgeries too - ask our team about what will give you the best path to surgery recovery.
Sports injuries
From sprained ankles to hamstring strains and everything in between, sports injuries are a major part of what our physio team see, particularly around the start of winter and summer sports seasons.
What ties all of these together
Regardless of the injury, the physiotherapy approach usually follows a similar pattern: an accurate assessment, a clear explanation of what's going on, hands-on physio treatment where appropriate, and a progressive exercise programme to restore strength, movement, and confidence.
Dealing with pain or an injury that isn't improving?
Get in touch we'll help you work out what's going on and build a plan to get you back to doing what you love.
