What physiotherapy treats

Plain-language guides written for patients — what each condition is, how physiotherapy helps, and the warning signs that need a doctor first. No jargon, no scare tactics. Not sure who to see first? Physio vs orthopaedic doctor →

Where does it hurt?

Tap the part of the body that's troubling you. We'll show what it usually means, how many sessions it typically takes, and the verified physiotherapists who treat it.

Switch to the back view for lower back, sciatica and balance problems.

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Lower back pain

Also called: Lumbago, Kamar dard

Lower back pain is one of the most common reasons people see a physiotherapist in India. Most episodes are 'non-specific' — caused by strained muscles or stiff joints rather than serious disease — and improve well with guided movement, posture work and a gradual return to activity.

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Neck pain

Also called: Cervical pain, Tech neck, Gardan dard

Neck pain has become dramatically more common with smartphone and laptop use. Most neck pain comes from muscles and joints protesting sustained forward-head postures, and it responds well to physiotherapy focused on movement, strength and workstation habits.

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Sciatica

Also called: Lumbar radiculopathy, Nerve pain in the leg

Sciatica is pain that travels from the lower back down the back of the leg, along the path of the sciatic nerve — usually because a disc or spinal joint is irritating a nerve root. Most cases settle over weeks to months, and physiotherapy helps you stay moving safely while it does.

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Frozen shoulder

Also called: Adhesive capsulitis

Frozen shoulder is a gradual, painful stiffening of the shoulder joint capsule. It is more common in people aged 40–60 and in those with diabetes or thyroid conditions. It moves through painful, stiff and thawing phases — physiotherapy shortens the journey and protects the movement you have.

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Knee osteoarthritis

Also called: Knee OA, Ghutne ka dard

Knee osteoarthritis is age-related change in the knee joint that causes pain and stiffness, and it is extremely common in India. Decades of research agree on the single best non-surgical treatment: guided strengthening exercise. Many people avoid or delay surgery with a good physiotherapy programme.

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Post-surgery rehabilitation

Also called: Post-operative physiotherapy, Rehab after joint replacement

After orthopaedic surgery — knee or hip replacement, ligament reconstruction, fracture fixation or spine surgery — the operation is only half the outcome. Structured rehabilitation is what restores strength, movement and confidence, and home-visit physiotherapy makes the early weeks far easier.

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Sports injuries

Also called: Sprains and strains, Ligament and muscle injuries

From cricket and football to gym training and running, sports injuries share a pattern: tissue overloaded beyond what it was prepared for. Good rehabilitation does more than settle pain — it rebuilds capacity so the injury doesn't repeat, and gets you back to sport with a tested plan.

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Stroke rehabilitation

Also called: Post-stroke physiotherapy, Paralysis rehab

Recovery after a stroke depends heavily on rehabilitation, and the brain's ability to rewire — neuroplasticity — responds to repetition and practice. Neuro-physiotherapy, started as early as the care team allows and continued consistently at home, is central to regaining movement and independence.

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Cervical spondylosis

Also called: Neck arthritis, Age-related neck change

Cervical spondylosis is the medical name for age-related wear in the neck's joints and discs. It is nearly universal on X-rays after 50 — and often painless. When it does cause symptoms, physiotherapy is the first-line treatment for pain and stiffness.

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Paediatric physiotherapy

Also called: Child physiotherapy, Developmental delay therapy

Children are not small adults — their movement problems need a specialist eye. Paediatric physiotherapists work with developmental delay, cerebral palsy, torticollis, walking abnormalities and post-injury recovery, always through age-appropriate, play-based therapy that involves the family.

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Breathing & chest physiotherapy

Also called: Pulmonary rehabilitation, COPD physiotherapy, Chest physio

For people with COPD, asthma, post-COVID breathlessness or recovering from chest surgery, cardio-respiratory physiotherapy improves breathing efficiency, clears secretions and rebuilds exercise tolerance. Breathlessness leads to inactivity, which worsens breathlessness — rehab breaks that cycle.

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Falls prevention & balance in older adults

Also called: Geriatric physiotherapy, Balance training

One in three adults over 65 falls each year, and a fall is often the event that ends independent living. The encouraging science: balance is trainable at any age. Targeted strength and balance work measurably reduces fall risk — and home-visit physiotherapy suits this perfectly.

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These guides are general education, not medical advice, and are no substitute for an assessment by a qualified professional. See our medical disclaimer.