When should I see a physiotherapist?

Earlier is better than later, and this is not a sales line. Pain left for years becomes harder to treat, because muscles weaken, joints stiffen and the nervous system becomes more sensitive to the same movement. Nerve problems in particular do not reward waiting: carpal tunnel syndrome left for a year can leave permanent numbness and thumb muscle wasting.

Common reasons to come in: back or neck pain lasting more than a week or two, pain travelling into an arm or leg, a shoulder that will not lift to reach a shelf or fasten clothes, a knee that swells or gives way, stiffness after a cast comes off, rehabilitation after surgery once your surgeon says to start, repeated ankle sprains, numbness or tingling in the hand, pain that stops you sleeping, difficulty walking or climbing stairs, and weakness or balance problems after a stroke.

Go to a doctor or a hospital first, not a physiotherapist, if any of these apply: a fall or accident with severe pain, obvious deformity, or you cannot put weight on the limb; fever with back pain; unexplained weight loss; pain that is unrelenting at night and unrelated to movement; a joint that is hot, red and swollen; a calf that is swollen, hot and painful; chest pain; loss of bladder or bowel control, or numbness around the groin or back passage; sudden facial drooping, slurred speech or one sided weakness, which needs a hospital immediately.

If you are not sure which group you fall into, that is a reasonable thing to ask on WhatsApp before booking anything.