When Should You See a Physiotherapist?
A rough rule: pain that has not improved in two weeks, pain that keeps returning, or any loss of function you cannot explain.
What physiotherapy actually deals with
Physiotherapy treats problems of movement: muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, nerves and the way they work together. In practice that covers rather more than most people assume:
- Back, neck and joint pain
- Sports and training injuries
- Recovery after surgery or a fracture
- Stroke and other neurological conditions
- Arthritis and long-term joint problems
- Balance problems and falls in older adults
- Children’s developmental and movement concerns
What it does not treat is anything where the problem is not mechanical. Chest pain, infections, and unexplained systemic symptoms belong with a doctor.
When to book
Pain that has not improved in two weeks. Most simple strains settle within that window. Pain that has not started improving is telling you something.
Pain that keeps coming back. A back that goes out twice a year is not unlucky. It means the episode gets treated and the cause does not, and that cycle continues until something addresses the underlying weakness.
Loss of function. You cannot lift your arm overhead, cannot manage stairs comfortably, cannot sit through a workday. Function loss matters more than pain intensity as a signal.
After surgery, immediately. Not when you feel ready. The first six weeks after most orthopaedic operations set a ceiling on your final result, and waiting costs you range you may not get back.
When you keep working around it. Avoiding a movement for months quietly weakens everything involved.
When to see a doctor instead
Some symptoms are not physiotherapy problems, and a good physiotherapist will send you elsewhere rather than treat them. Go to a doctor if you have:
- Loss of bladder or bowel control, or numbness around the groin
- Progressive weakness in a limb
- Pain following significant trauma, or inability to bear weight
- Fever alongside joint pain or back pain
- Unexplained weight loss with persistent pain
- A hot, red, acutely swollen joint
What happens if you book
The first appointment is mostly listening and testing: what hurts, when it started, what makes it worse, and what you need to get back to. Then proper physical assessment, because referred pain is common and the sore spot is often not the source.
You should leave with a working diagnosis, hands-on treatment, and two or three specific exercises. If you leave with none of those, that was not an assessment.
Related
Common questions
Do I need a doctor's referral in Kenya?
No. You can book directly with a physiotherapist. If we think you need imaging or a specialist opinion, we will tell you and help arrange it.
Should I wait and see if it settles on its own?
For a mild strain with a clear cause, a week or two of sensible activity is reasonable. Beyond that, waiting mostly costs you time, problems that have been present for months take longer to resolve than problems seen early.
Can physiotherapy help if I have had the pain for years?
Often, yes. Long-standing problems take longer, but persistent pain frequently responds well once the underlying weakness or movement pattern is addressed rather than just the sore area.
Book a physiotherapist in Nairobi
Clinic appointments in Westlands, or a physiotherapist at your door anywhere in Nairobi. Same-week slots.