Health · England
Help with moving and comfort
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This guide is for people in England.
Physiotherapy can help with movement, posture and pain.
Tell the therapist what you want to do.
Your comfort matters.
Ask your GP or health team about physiotherapy.
They can explain the local service.
Tell the therapist if something hurts.
Show them how you communicate pain.
The therapist should make a plan with you.
The plan should fit your needs.
You might need help with sitting, lying or moving comfortably.
Ask for advice about your equipment.
Ask the therapist to show you and your supporters what to do.
Follow the advice made for you.
Ask who to contact if the plan is painful or difficult.
Ask for a review when your needs change.
What you can do next
Please help me get a physiotherapy assessment.
I want support with movement and comfort.
Read the NHS physiotherapy guide Web pageThis link opens another website.
It may use harder words.
More useful links
- NHS physiotherapy information Web page
What to expect and how to ask for help.
- Learning disability physiotherapy example Web page
An NHS explanation of posture, movement and personalised programmes.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
Physiotherapy, movement and posture
Ask for support with comfortable movement, posture, mobility and everyday activities.
Children and adults · England · Local services vary
Start with everyday goals
Physiotherapy can help people who have pain or difficulty moving because of illness, injury or disability. Goals might include moving around college, enjoying a favourite activity or sitting more comfortably with family. Explain what matters to the person, including maintaining abilities and comfort. The aim should be meaningful to them; it does not have to be walking or doing a standard exercise programme.
How to ask for help
Speak to your GP or the health professional already supporting you. Some local musculoskeletal services accept self-referrals, but specialist children's and learning disability services may use different routes. Ask which service can assess your needs. Mainstream physiotherapy should consider reasonable adjustments. Specialist learning disability physiotherapists can help where general services cannot meet someone's needs even with adjustments; local criteria and availability vary.
What the assessment may consider
The physiotherapist may ask about medical history, pain, movement, balance and daily activities. Share how the person communicates discomfort and any recent changes. Discuss tiredness, falls, seating and the places where support is needed. Tell the therapist about existing equipment and care plans. Ask for an accessible explanation, time to respond and a familiar supporter if the person wants one.
Posture and complex physical needs
Some people need a plan covering sitting, lying and moving throughout the day and night. This is sometimes called 24-hour postural care. A specialist assessment may involve physiotherapy, occupational therapy, wheelchair services and other professionals. The team should consider comfort, joints, skin and chest health together. People with profound and multiple learning disabilities may need careful observation of their individual signs of pain or distress.
Get a plan and practical training
Ask for the agreed activities, equipment, review arrangements and contact details in a form supporters can use. Request a demonstration and a chance to practise with the clinician. Ask how to recognise discomfort and when to stop or seek advice. Do not improvise stretches, standing programmes, chest treatments or equipment adjustments from a generic website: the person's clinical plan and training should guide these.
Review when life or health changes
Discuss whether the plan is manageable at home, in education and during other activities. Ask how it will connect with seating, wheelchair use and safe support from carers. Contact the team if the person develops new pain, reduced movement, falls, distress during the programme or problems with equipment. Ask for reassessment after significant changes. A previous plan should not simply continue unchanged because it is familiar.
Coordinate seating, movement and orthotics
Ask who is responsible when the plan includes physiotherapy, seating, a wheelchair, footwear or braces. An orthotist assesses and fits supports such as splints or specialist footwear; this is a different role from the physiotherapist. Clarify which service will arrange fitting, training and review. Tell the team if equipment causes pain or skin problems. Changes should be assessed, rather than different supporters altering equipment independently.
Words you could use
“I would like a physiotherapy assessment for movement, comfort and posture. Please consider my everyday goals and explain the training and review support available.”
More useful links
- NHS physiotherapy information Web page
What to expect and how to ask for help.
- Learning disability physiotherapy example Web page
An NHS explanation of posture, movement and personalised programmes.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
Where the information comes from
Links checked 1 November 2026.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
- NHS: physiotherapy Web page
What physiotherapy involves, assessment and routes to NHS care.
- Guy's and St Thomas': learning disability physiotherapy Web page
Individual plans, postural care, mobility and training for supporters.
- Central London Community Healthcare: specialist physiotherapy Web page
Specialist support, postural care and links with equipment services.
- Surrey and Borders Partnership: community learning disability teams Web page
Specialist multidisciplinary support for physical health and everyday participation.
- NHS England: Accessible Information Standard Web page
Information and communication adjustments.
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS: orthotics Web page
Individual assessment and fitting of braces and specialist footwear.