Is Physiotherapy a wellbeing profession?

Physiotherapy Phnom Penh job description

Recently in my clinic, I treated a patient who needed intensive rehab to walk again and resolve a serious joint condition. At the end of the session, he smiled and said: “It just feels good to come here.”

While I appreciated the kind words, I couldn’t ignore the misunderstanding. Physiotherapy is not about feeling good. It’s not about comfort or relaxation. I’m not here for your wellbeing—I’m here to treat pathology. It’s time to place physiotherapy clearly on the medical map.

1. Origins of Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy developed strongly in post-World War II Europe. The need to care for injured and disabled soldiers pushed the profession forward.

It has always been part of the medical field—taught in universities, practiced in hospitals, and fully integrated into national healthcare systems.

2. Where Does Physiotherapy Fit in the Medical Map?

When facing a musculoskeletal issue, you generally have three options:

• Medication: Useful during acute phases to reduce pain and maintain function. But chronic use is harmful. Long-term painkiller use, especially opioids or corticosteroids, increases risk of side effects and dependency.

• Surgery: Often chosen because of the surgeon’s perceived authority. But many surgeries could be avoided with proper conservative treatment.

• Physiotherapy (Conservative Care): Aimed at restoring movement, reducing pain, and improving long-term function without drugs or surgery.

3. What Does the Science Say?

Research in physiotherapy is vast and international. For example, in ankle sprain prevention, we have thousands of articles comparing outcomes between conservative therapy, surgery, and drugs.

Evidence clearly supports physiotherapy as the first-line treatment. It’s recommended by health authorities around the world and integrated into national guidelines.

4. Public Perception and Referrals

Two key problems shape public misunderstanding:

• Medical referrals: Some doctors and surgeons still believe physiotherapy is just massage. This outdated view leads to poor patient referrals and undervalues conservative treatment.

• General perception: Patients often think physiotherapy is about “feeling better” or “relaxation.” That’s wrong. We are not a wellness service. We treat pain and pathology using research-based techniques.

5. What Do Physiotherapists Actually Do?

We help reduce drug intake. We help avoid unnecessary surgery. Our work is hands-on, backed by science, and focused on function and pain reduction.

We don’t relax people—we restore their health.

Conclusion

Is physiotherapy a wellbeing profession? Absolutely not.

We are not here to relax you. We are not here to make you feel pampered. We are here to treat dysfunction and pain using the most validated techniques in the medical field.

At Studio On., we follow the path of Evidence-Based Medicine. We use what works. We aim for results. We apply international protocols based on thousands of peer-reviewed articles.

If you need comfort, there are other professions. If you want to get better—book a physiotherapy session.