The job in one paragraph
Physiotherapy in sport is assessment, treatment and rehabilitation. The assessment establishes what is happening and why; treatment reduces pain and restores movement; rehabilitation rebuilds capacity so the same thing is less likely to happen again. The rehabilitation phase is the part people skip and the part that decides whether an injury recurs.
How it differs from coaching and from massage
A coach develops performance and can adapt training around a problem, but diagnosing and treating one is clinical work. A sports massage therapist works on soft tissue and recovery; a physiotherapist assesses, diagnoses within their scope, and prescribes progressive loading. The three overlap in the gym and are not interchangeable in the clinic.
When to book one
- Pain that has lasted more than a few days, or that returns every time load increases.
- Swelling, or a joint that feels unstable or gives way.
- Any injury that stopped play, before returning to training.
- A problem that keeps recurring — a repeated strain is usually a movement issue, not luck.
- For a child, any persistent pain. Growing athletes should not train through it.
What a first appointment involves
Mostly assessment: history, movement testing, and an explanation of what they found. Treatment normally starts in the same appointment, and you should leave with specific exercises for between sessions — that home work is where most of the progress happens.
Follow-up frequency depends on the injury and is agreed with the physiotherapist. Be wary of a fixed package sold before an assessment has happened.
When to see a doctor instead
A suspected fracture, a head injury, severe or rapidly worsening pain, numbness, or any loss of function needs a doctor or emergency care first. A good physiotherapist will say the same and refer rather than treat around it.