Do You Have to Wait Until You Have an Injury to See a Physio?

When most people think about seeing a physiotherapist, they picture someone who has just injured themselves.
A sore back after lifting something. A rolled ankle playing sport. A shoulder that has been painful for weeks. A knee that started hurting after a run.

But what if you haven't actually injured anything?

Do you have to wait until something is properly painful before seeing a physio?
No, you don't.

Physiotherapy isn't just about treating injuries after they happen. It can also be useful when something doesn't feel quite right, when you're struggling with a particular movement, when an old problem keeps coming back, or when you simply want some guidance about how to get stronger and move better.

You don't have to be injured to see a physio
One of the most common things we hear is:
"It's not really an injury. It's just a little sore."
Or:
"I probably should have come in sooner, but I didn't think it was bad enough."

You don't need to wait until you're in significant pain before getting some help.
Sometimes a small niggle is exactly the right time to get it checked.

For example, perhaps your knee has started feeling uncomfortable when you run, but you're still able to run. Or your shoulder feels stiff after the gym, but isn't painful all the time. Maybe your back keeps feeling tight after work, but settles down again by the weekend.
These things don't necessarily mean you've damaged something. But they may be worth understanding before they start interfering with the activities you enjoy.
A physio can help you work out what's going on, what might be contributing to it and what you can do about it.

Physio can be about more than pain
You can also see a physiotherapist when you aren't experiencing pain at all.
For some people, it's about getting stronger.
Maybe you've recently started going to the gym and aren't sure how to progress your exercises. Perhaps you've had an old injury and want to make sure you're building your strength back properly.

For others, it's about getting back to a sport or activity.
If you're a runner training for a longer distance, for example, you might want advice about gradually increasing your training load. If you play netball, football or another sport, you might want help preparing your body for the demands of your season.
Physiotherapy can also be useful when you're returning to exercise after having a baby, taking a long break from training, or simply trying to become more active.
You don't have to wait until something goes wrong.

What about recurring problems?
Another good reason to see a physio is when the same problem keeps coming back.
Maybe your lower back settles down every time, only to flare up again a few months later.
Or your shoulder becomes sore whenever you increase your gym training.
Perhaps your calf starts hurting whenever you increase your running distance.
It can be tempting to simply wait for the problem to settle each time.
But if something keeps returning, it can be helpful to look at the bigger picture.
That doesn't necessarily mean there is one particular muscle that's "weak" or one movement that's "causing" the problem. Often, there are several factors involved, including your current activity levels, how quickly you've increased your workload, strength, recovery, previous experiences with pain and the demands you're placing on your body.
A physio can help you make sense of those factors and work out what changes, if any, are worth making.

You can come in before starting something new
You also don't need to wait until you're struggling if you're about to take on a new challenge.
Starting running?
Returning to the gym?
Training for your first half marathon?
Getting back into sport after having time off?
Increasing your strength training?
These are all situations where a physio may be able to help you understand how to gradually build up your body's capacity.
The goal isn't to find every possible thing that could go wrong or tell you that you need to avoid certain activities.
Instead, it's about making sure your training and progression are appropriate for where you're starting from and helping you feel confident about what you're doing.

What happens if you come in with a small niggle?
You might be wondering whether a physio will tell you that you need weeks of treatment for something that barely bothers you.
Not necessarily.
Sometimes the most useful appointment is simply one where you get an assessment, have your questions answered and leave with a clear plan.
That plan might involve a few exercises, some changes to your training, advice about managing your symptoms or simply knowing what to keep an eye on.
And sometimes we'll tell you that there's nothing particularly concerning and that you can carry on doing what you're doing.

You don't have to be injured to need treatment or benefit from an assessment.

So, when should you see a physio?
There isn't a magic level of pain that means you should book an appointment.
It may be worth seeing a physio if:

• Something has started hurting and you aren't sure why.
• A niggle is affecting your exercise or sport.
• You have a problem that keeps coming back.
• You're unsure how to return to exercise after time off.
• You're starting a new sport or increasing your training.
• You want help building strength or confidence after an injury.
• You're worried about a particular movement or activity.
• You simply aren't sure whether something needs treatment.

And importantly, you can come in even if you're not sure whether physiotherapy is what you need.
Part of our job is helping you work that out.

You don't have to wait until it gets worse
There's a common idea that you should just "wait and see" when something starts hurting.
Sometimes that's completely reasonable, many aches and pains settle with time and normal movement.
But you also don't need to wait until a small problem has become a big one before asking for help.
Physiotherapy can be useful at many different points: when you're dealing with pain, when you're recovering from an injury, when you're returning to activity, when you're trying to improve your strength, or simply when something doesn't feel quite right.

You don't need to have a serious injury to see a physio. You just need a reason to want some help.

Want to know whether physio could help?
At Better Bodies Physiotherapy in Palmerston North, we work with people at all different stages, from those dealing with a new injury to people who simply want advice about a niggle, exercise or getting back to the activities they enjoy.
If something doesn't feel quite right, you don't have to wait for it to become a bigger problem.

Book an appointment with one of our physiotherapists and let's work out what's going on and what you can do about it.

Related Reading:
Back Pain Physiotherapy
Neck Pain Physiotherapy
Sports Physiotherapy