What happens when I meet the physio?
When you come into hospital, your doctor or nurse will decide whether you need to see a physiotherapist. If you do, they will refer you.
If you feel you need help with mobility, exercising, breathing or carrying out day-to-day functions, you can also ask your nurse or doctor to refer you to the Physiotherapy service.
If the physiotherapist decides that you will benefit from treatment, they will begin working with you on a programme of exercises.
Mostly, they will come and see you at your bedside. Sometimes, you will be taken to the Physiotherapy department's gym and hydrotherapy pool where you may use specialist equipment.
The physio's aim is to get you back to the level of mobility that you were at before you came into hospital.
In some cases, such as for stroke patients, they may start you on the road to recovery before you are sent to a dedicated rehabilitation centre.
Before you leave hospital, your physiotherapist will normally give you some exercises to carry on doing at home.