5 Signs You Should See a Physiotherapist (And Why You Shouldn't Wait)
- Andrew Cunliffe
- Dec 9
- 9 min read
How long have you been putting up with that niggling pain?
A week? A month? Six months? Longer?
If you're like most people, you've probably been hoping it would just go away on its own. Maybe you've tried rest, painkillers, ice packs, heat packs, or that foam roller gathering dust in the corner. And yet, here you are - still in pain, still limited, and still wondering: "Should I actually see a physiotherapist about this?"
Here's the truth: most people wait far too long before seeking physiotherapy treatment. They endure unnecessary pain, develop compensation patterns, and often make their problems worse, all because they weren't sure if their issue was "serious enough" to warrant professional help.
At Flex Physiotherapy in Sheffield, we see this pattern constantly. Patients come to us saying "I wish I'd come sooner" or "I didn't realise physiotherapy could help with this."
So let's cut through the confusion. Here are five clear signs that it's time to see a physiotherapist - and why waiting could be making your problem worse.
Sign 1: Your Pain Has Lasted More Than Two Weeks
The Rule: If pain, discomfort, or restriction hasn't improved significantly within two weeks, it's time to get professional assessment and treatment.
Why This Matters
Acute pain from minor strains or sprains typically improves within a few days to two weeks with appropriate self-care. If yours hasn't, one of three things is happening:
The injury is more significant than you thought - What feels like a simple muscle pull might be a ligament sprain, joint problem, or something else requiring specific treatment
You're not treating it appropriately - Without proper diagnosis, you might be doing exactly the wrong things (like stretching when you should be strengthening, or resting when you should be moving)
Underlying issues are preventing healing - Biomechanical problems, weakness, or poor movement patterns could be stopping your body from recovering naturally
The Risk of Waiting
Pain that persists beyond the normal healing timeframe can become chronic. Your nervous system can become sensitized, making pain harder to resolve. You might develop compensation patterns - favoring the painful area and overloading other parts of your body, creating new problems.
Early physiotherapy intervention means faster recovery, less risk of chronic pain, and preventing secondary injuries.
Examples We See Regularly
Shoulder pain that "came out of nowhere" three weeks ago
Knee pain that started after a run and hasn't settled
Neck stiffness that's been present for a month
Hip pain that you've been "managing" for six weeks
What to do: Book a Physiotherapy assessment to identify what's causing your pain and get a clear treatment plan.
Sign 2: Pain is Affecting Your Daily Life
The Rule: If pain, stiffness, or weakness is limiting what you can do in normal daily life, you need physiotherapy.
Why This Matters
When pain starts affecting your daily activities, it's your body's way of saying the problem needs addressing. This isn't about "toughening up" or "pushing through" - it's about recognising that your body needs help to heal properly.
Examples of Daily Life Impact
Are you experiencing any of these?
At work: Struggling to sit comfortably at your desk, difficulty concentrating because of pain, unable to perform physical aspects of your job
At home: Avoiding housework because of back pain, difficulty getting comfortable in bed, struggling to lift shopping or children
Sleep: Waking during the night because of pain, unable to find a comfortable sleeping position, morning stiffness affecting your day
Social life: Declining activities you enjoy, avoiding social situations because you're in pain, feeling frustrated or low because of limitations
The Hidden Cost
Beyond the physical pain, there's a psychological toll. Chronic discomfort affects mood, sleep, concentration, and quality of life. Many people don't realise how much their pain has been affecting them until after treatment, when they suddenly feel "normal" again.
The Risk of Waiting
The longer you modify your activities to accommodate pain, the more your body adapts to these abnormal patterns. Muscles weaken from disuse. Movement becomes more restricted. Fear of pain can create avoidance behaviors that make the problem worse.
What to do: If your pain is dictating what you can and can't do, it's time for professional help. At Flex, we specialise in getting people back to normal life - whether that's back pain affecting your work or any other condition limiting your daily activities.
Sign 3: You're an Active Person with a Sports Injury
The Rule: If you're an athlete or active person with an injury affecting your training or performance, see a sports physiotherapist immediately - don't wait for it to "settle down."
Why This Matters for Athletes
Athletes and active people face unique challenges:
Training demands: You can't just stop exercising for weeks - your fitness, performance, and mental health depend on staying active
Compensation risks: Athletes often push through pain, leading to compensation injuries elsewhere
Performance impact: Even small injuries can significantly affect your performance and technique
Timing matters: Waiting can mean missing competitions, events, or the season you've been training for
Common Sports Injuries That Need Prompt Attention
Running injuries: Runner's knee, IT band syndrome, shin splints, Achilles problems, plantar fasciitis
Gym injuries: Shoulder impingement, lower back pain, knee pain, tennis elbow
Team sports: Ankle sprains, hamstring strains, groin problems, ACL injuries
Racquet sports: Tennis elbow, shoulder pain, back problems
Cycling: Knee pain, back pain, neck stiffness
The Athlete's Dilemma
Many athletes make one of two mistakes:
Training through pain - Making the injury worse and risking compensation problems
Complete rest - Losing fitness, strength, and confidence unnecessarily
Sports Physiotherapy offers a third option: modified training that maintains fitness while allowing proper healing, combined with targeted treatment and progressive return-to-sport protocols.
Sign 4: The Same Problem Keeps Coming Back
The Rule: If you've had the same injury or pain multiple times - especially in the same location - you need physiotherapy to address the underlying cause.
Why Recurrence is a Red Flag
Recurring problems aren't bad luck - they're your body telling you that something fundamental isn't right. You might be treating the symptom each time (with rest, painkillers, or temporary fixes) without addressing the actual cause.
Common Recurring Problems
Back pain: Repeatedly "throwing your back out" doing normal activities
Ankle sprains: Rolling the same ankle repeatedly
Hamstring strains: Getting the same hamstring injury every season
Shoulder pain: Shoulder "flaring up" every few months
Neck pain: Regular episodes of neck stiffness or pain
What's Really Happening
Recurrence usually indicates one or more of these issues:
Biomechanical problems: Poor movement patterns, muscle imbalances, or joint dysfunction creating ongoing stress
Incomplete rehabilitation: Previous injuries that didn't heal properly or regain full strength
Underlying weakness: Lack of strength or stability in supporting structures
Compensatory patterns: Your body adapting to old injuries in ways that create new problems
The Progressive Problem
Each recurrence often:
Takes longer to recover than the last time
Responds less well to your usual self-treatment
Becomes more severe
Affects a wider area
Increases your risk of chronic problems
The Risk of Waiting
Without addressing the root cause, you're stuck in a frustrating cycle of pain → temporary improvement → re-injury → pain. Each episode can cause more damage, and the cumulative effect can lead to chronic conditions that are harder to resolve.
What to do: Recurring problems need proper assessment to identify WHY they keep happening. Our Physiotherapy team will identify the underlying cause and create a treatment plan that breaks the cycle, not just treats the current episode.
Sign 5: You're Pregnant, Postnatal, or Experiencing Women's Health Issues
The Rule: If you're pregnant, recovering from childbirth, or experiencing pelvic floor dysfunction, specialist physiotherapy is essential - not optional.
Why Women's Health Issues Need Physiotherapy
Many women suffer in silence with issues they think are "just normal after having babies" or "part of being a woman." But conditions like pelvic floor dysfunction, diastasis recti, and postnatal pain are highly treatable with specialist physiotherapy.
Issues That Definitely Need Attention
Pelvic floor problems:
Urinary or faecal incontinence (leaking when you cough, sneeze, laugh, or exercise)
Pelvic organ prolapse (feeling of heaviness, bulging, or something "coming down")
Pain during sex
Inability to control urgency
Postnatal issues:
Diastasis recti (abdominal separation)
C-section scar problems (pain, numbness, adhesions)
Pelvic girdle pain
Unable to return to exercise safely
Lower back pain since giving birth
Pregnancy-related:
Pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy
Preparing your body for birth
Managing existing conditions during pregnancy
The "Normal" Myth
This is not normal and you don't have to accept it:
❌ "Leaking a bit when I jump is just normal after babies"
❌ "All mums have a tummy pooch, nothing can be done"
❌ "Pain during sex is just how it is now"
❌ "My pelvic floor will never be the same"
✅ All of these issues can be significantly improved or resolved with specialist Women's Health Physiotherapy.
The Risk of Waiting
Pelvic floor issues often worsen over time without treatment
Diastasis recti can become harder to resolve if left too long
Scar tissue can form adhesions that restrict movement
Compensation patterns develop, causing other problems
Quality of life and confidence suffer unnecessarily
The Stigma Problem
Many women don't seek help because:
They're embarrassed to discuss these issues
They think it's "not serious enough" to warrant treatment
They don't know physiotherapy can help with these problems
They prioritize everyone else's needs above their own
But here's the truth: These issues significantly impact quality of life, relationships, confidence, and physical health. You deserve to feel comfortable in your own body.
What to do: Book a Women's Health Physiotherapy assessment with our specialist Beki. In a safe, confidential, and empathetic environment, she'll assess your concerns and create a treatment plan that actually works.
But What If I'm Not Sure?
Still wondering if your issue warrants seeing a physiotherapist? Here are some questions to ask yourself:
About the problem:
Has it been present for more than two weeks?
Is it getting worse rather than better?
Does it limit what you can do?
Are you worried about it?
Does it affect your sleep, work, or activities you enjoy?
About your attempts to fix it:
Have you tried rest, ice, painkillers, or other self-treatment without improvement?
Are you finding you need painkillers regularly?
Have you Googled your symptoms extensively? (If yes, just book the appointment!)
Are you avoiding activities because of it?
About the impact:
Is it affecting your mood or stress levels?
Are you frustrated that it's not getting better?
Is it stopping you doing things you love?
Would life be significantly better without this problem?
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you should see a physiotherapist.
What Happens at a Physiotherapy Assessment?
Still hesitant? Here's what to expect when you book with Flex:
Your First Appointment (60 minutes)
1. Discussion (15-20 minutes) We'll ask about your symptoms, how they started, what makes them better or worse, and how they're affecting your life. This is your time to tell your story.
2. Physical Examination (25-30 minutes) We'll assess your movement, strength, flexibility, and function. We'll identify exactly what's wrong and why it's happening.
3. Clear Diagnosis (10 minutes) We'll explain what we believe is causing your problem in clear, jargon-free language. You'll understand what's happening in your body.
4. Treatment Plan (10 minutes) We'll outline the treatment approach, how many sessions you're likely to need, and what your recovery timeline looks like.
5. First Treatment We begin hands-on therapy in your first session. You'll leave with exercises to start immediately.
You'll Leave Knowing:
✅ What we think is causing the issue
✅ Why it's happened
✅ What the treatment plan is
✅ How long recovery should take
✅ What exercises to do
✅ How to manage your symptoms
No more uncertainty. No more guessing. No more hoping it magically gets better.
Take Action Today
If you recognised yourself in any of these five signs, it's time to stop waiting and start recovering.
Pain, dysfunction, and limitation don't have to be ‘your normal’. Physiotherapy can help - but only if you take that first step and book an appointment.
Book Your Assessment at Flex
Flex Physiotherapy
321-323 Middlewood Road
Hillsborough
Sheffield
S6 1TH
Phone: 0114 4539669
We treat patients from across Sheffield including Hillsborough, Wadsley, Crookes, Walkley, Malin Bridge, and surrounding areas.
Which service is right for you?
General aches, pains, or injuries? Book a physiotherapy assessment
Sports or exercise-related injury? Book a sports physiotherapy assessment
Back pain or sciatica? See our back pain treatment service
Pregnancy, postnatal, or pelvic floor issues? Book a women's health assessment
Not sure which service you need? Contact us here.
Real Stories from Flex Clients
"Brilliant physiotherapy received from Emily who completed thorough assessment and provided me with lots of knowledge on how I can improve back pain and nerve compression. Very knowledgeable and professional throughout, would definitely recommend and will be visiting again!"
— Oli, Sheffield
"I've seen Beki several times during my postnatal recovery which has made a huge difference to my physical health. She's extremely knowledgeable in her field, very friendly yet professional and immediately puts you at ease during appointments. I'd highly recommend a session with her to anyone having physical issues after giving birth."
— Rebecca, Sheffield
Ready to discover what Flex can do for you? Call 0114 4539669 or book online today.
Thanks for reading!
Beki Cunliffe
Co-Director at Flex
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