Physio for muscle and joint pain
A physio (physiotherapist) helps with pain, stiffness and weakness in your muscles and joints, from a stiff neck to a sore heel. The NHS lists back pain, neck pain, arthritis and sprains and strains among the problems physiotherapy is used for.
Pick the area that hurts to see when a physio helps, what the NHS suggests trying first, and the warning signs that need 999, NHS 111 or a GP instead.
Or choose an area
Neck pain
Stiffness, a pinched nerve, whiplashShoulder pain
Pain lifting your arm, stiffness, clickingUpper back pain
Pain between the shoulder bladesLower back pain
Back ache, a back that went, sciaticaElbow pain
Tennis elbow, pain gripping or liftingWrist and hand pain
Sore thumb, tingling fingers, weak gripHip pain
Pain walking, stiffness, pain lying on itKnee pain
Stairs, stiffness, a twist or a sprainAnkle and foot pain
Sprains, heel pain, Achilles pain
What a physio usually does
- At a first appointment, a physio asks about your symptoms, your health and your daily life, and may check how you move, your strength and your balance.
- Treatment may include exercises to improve movement and build strength, and manual therapy, where the physio uses their hands to massage and move the area.
- You usually get advice on managing your symptoms and exercises to do at home between sessions.
In many areas of England you can refer yourself to NHS physiotherapy through community musculoskeletal (MSK) services, without seeing a GP first. Waiting times can be long. You can also pay to see a physio privately. The NHS says to check they are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Some GP surgeries also have first contact physiotherapists, who specialise in bone and joint problems and can assess you.
Sources
- NHS: Physiotherapy page reviewed
- NHS: Get NHS help for back or joint problems page reviewed
Each area page lists the NHS pages it draws on.
This is general information, not medical advice or a diagnosis. A physio or GP can assess your own situation.