Physical Therapy and Physiotherapy: What is the difference?

Even though the two words sound familiar there is a buck load of difference. There is quite the confusion in these two words that are physical therapy and physiotherapy. The question arises what is the difference and what is the difference in services between physical therapy and physiotherapy. The answer may be a shock when found out that physiotherapy and physical therapy have similar roots and almost similar meanings. More likely to be synonyms. 

To be clearer here is the difference between physical therapy and physiotherapy,
•    Physiotherapy involves a hands-on approach and makes skilled use of manual therapy. Physical therapy on the other hand Is more exercised based therapy. 
•    In countries such as Ireland and Australia, the profession of physiotherapy is well known and the term physical therapy is considered a low career-ranking job and there is not much education related to that. But in the US the term is used interchangeably.
•    In physiotherapy the methods dealing with pain are much more varied such as TENS and a physical therapist would much not use the TENS method.
•    A physical therapist usually has a private practice which allows them to develop better client and therapist relationship. On the other hand, maximum physiotherapists work at the hospital and they are referred through referrals. 

Thus, it's hard to differentiate between two professions, it can depend on the regions of the country. So, if you go ahead and ask there will be many similarities as they do the same tasks that are offered to them. Both physiotherapy and physical therapy have treated patients that are recovering from an injury with the same techniques of healing pain and providing more flexibility on the body. Regardless of the name, the physical therapist also focuses on providing tips to the patients on improving their lifestyle.  
On the other hand, physiotherapists restore, maintain, and make the most of a patient's mobility, flexibility, and well-functioning. 


Physiotherapists get you involved and motivated to getting recovered soon. They recommend movement and exercising to help mobility and flexibility in the joints and body which helps reduce body stiffness. The exercises are to be repeated regularly and followed as per the instructions of the physiotherapist. Physical therapy can be challenging as that your body parts that are injured may have chronic pain. The process can be very hard in the beginning but with consistent exercise as prescribed by the physiotherapist, it gets better. You may feel sore after stretching and deep tissue massage but that’s all timely. The physiotherapist would help you heal through the body natural pain-relieving chemicals and messages and exercises.  
 
 

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