1. Pain That Persists Beyond 2 Weeks
Acute injuries typically improve significantly within 2 weeks with appropriate rest and self-care. Pain lasting beyond this timeframe indicates a problem that is not resolving independently and requires professional assessment.
2. Pain That Interferes with Sleep
Night pain is a significant clinical sign. It may indicate inflammatory arthritis, infection, malignancy, or referred pain from internal structures. While physiotherapy treats many causes of night pain, it is essential to rule out serious pathology first.
3. Limping or Altered Gait
Any change in the way you walk — favouring one leg, reduced stride length, avoiding heel strike — indicates compensation for pain or weakness. Compensatory patterns lead to secondary injuries in unaffected areas if not corrected.
4. Recurring Episodes of the Same Problem
If you have had the same injury or pain pattern 2 or more times, your body is communicating a structural or functional problem that is not being addressed. Physiotherapy identifies and resolves the underlying cause to break the cycle.
5. Weakness in an Arm or Leg
Progressive or sudden weakness requires urgent evaluation, particularly if accompanied by numbness, tingling, or changes in balance. These may indicate nerve compression or neurological conditions requiring prompt management.
6. Stiffness After Rest
Morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes suggests inflammatory arthritis (rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis) and requires combined medical and physiotherapy management.
7. Dizziness or Balance Problems
Dizziness with head movement, unsteadiness when walking, or frequent loss of balance may indicate vestibular dysfunction, cervicogenic dizziness, or neurological changes — all treatable with physiotherapy.
8. Post-Surgical or Post-Fracture Weakness
If you have recently had surgery or fractured a bone and feel your strength and function are not returning as expected, a physiotherapy assessment will identify what is needed to optimise recovery.