fysioterapi

Fysioterapi, known in English as physiotherapy or physical therapy, is a health care profession focused on movement and function. Physiotherapists assess and treat physical impairments and activity limitations with the goal of restoring mobility, reducing pain, and preventing disability. The approach is patient-centered and evidence-based, combining medical understanding with functional goals.

Assessment typically starts with a medical history and a physical examination, followed by functional testing. Treatment may include therapeutic exercises to improve strength and flexibility, manual therapy such as joint mobilizations and soft-tissue work, balance and gait training, neuromuscular re-education, and education on posture, ergonomics, breath control, and self-management. Depending on the condition, electrotherapy, hydrotherapy, or other modalities may be used to support recovery.

Fysioterapi is applied across a wide range of conditions. Common targets include acute and chronic musculoskeletal injuries, postoperative rehabilitation, back and neck pain, arthritis, neurological disorders (for example stroke or Parkinson’s disease), and cardiopulmonary conditions (such as after heart surgery or in chronic lung disease). It also encompasses pediatric development, sports injury prevention, and general rehabilitation after illness or injury.

Practitioners require university-level education and professional registration or licensing in many countries. Training emphasizes anatomy, physiology, movement science, and evidence-based practice, with clinical placements to develop assessment, clinical reasoning, and communication skills. Continued professional development and adherence to ethical and safety standards are typically mandatory to maintain licensure.