What is Physiotherapy?

Caitlyn Davey • July 8, 2025

Be wary of claims such as “needling promotes healing” or “regular manipulation is required to maintain spinal alignment.” I won’t dispute that these things can decrease pain in the short term, however they are NOT necessary for recovery from an injury.What is physiotherapy? A valid question. If you asked ten people, you’d get a variety of answers. While I believe most people have some idea of what we do, I’d love to use my first blog for Rebuild to define the job more clearly and clear up some very common misconceptions.The Australian Physiotherapy Association defines the role as follows:“Physiotherapists help you get the most out of life. They help you recover from injury, reduce pain and stiffness, increase mobility and prevent further injury. They listen to your needs to tailor a treatment specific to your condition. As first contact practitioners, you don’t need a doctor’s referral to see a physiotherapist. Physiotherapists, doctors, and other health professionals will often work as part of a team to plan and manage treatment for a specific condition.”To put it very simply, Physiotherapists manage movement disorders of the human body including musculoskeletal injuries and neurological conditions. We also have a role in hospital or community settings treating cardiorespiratory conditions and aiding in management post-surgery or of chronic disease. As a musculoskeletal based private physio my caseload is entirely injuries or mobility issues.It is important to understand that the term “Physiotherapy” refers to a profession, not a specific treatment. Physios use a variety of treatment techniques such as:Advice and education on the patient’s condition, activity modification and self-management strategies to aid in recovery.Rehabilitation programs aimed at improving tissue capacity, strength and/or mobility.Pain management techniques such as joint mobilisation, manipulation, massage and dry needling or acupuncture.The available scientific evidence shows that a combination of advice/education and exercise is the most effective strategy for management of pain or injury.Other techniques listed above may have evidence for short term pain reduction, but do not truly speed up the recovery process for any injury. Think of taking Panadol: it may help with pain in the short-term but did not actually treat the issue.High-value physiotherapy care is therefore centred on gaining an understanding of your problem and creating strategies you can use yourself to get better. The human body has an incredible ability to adapt to or recover from stressors, our job is to facilitate this through a good plan rather than simply fix the issue and send a person on their way.Be wary of claims such as “needling promotes healing” or “regular manipulation is required to maintain spinal alignment.” I won’t dispute that these things can decrease pain in the short term, however they are NOT necessary for recovery from an injury.The old mantra of “no pain, no gain” should not apply following these treatments. Some pain during a session of massage or needling is probably OK if you leave feeling better. If you leave in more discomfort afterward, particularly if its long-lasting, the treatment has failed to serve its only purpose and has NO VALUE to you as a patient.Pain is a complicated experience. It can be caused by far more than just damaged tissue in the area it is felt. To put it simply, it is your nervous system’s way of telling you that it finds something in the area threatening to you. It is a normal and vital part of life and does not always mean that you should stop activities that you enjoy.A Physio will take a thorough history and assess the issue to give you a plan to build back to doing the things you love.At Rebuild, we have a great team of coaches who are in constant communication about any members with physical issues. A big part of my role is to scale programming for people in pain to keep them working hard in class while performing extra rehab to achieve their goals.If you have an injury preventing progress and you’re tired of working through or around it, I would be more than happy to help.Louis Savill (Physiotherapist) 

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July 22, 2025
If you live in Wynnum or Capalaba , chances are you’ve seen a bootcamp in action — high-intensity sessions in parks, with lots of burpees, sprints, and shouting. While bootcamps can be a fun way to get sweaty, there’s a reason more people are choosing structured strength training instead. At Rebuild, we often meet people who’ve jumped from one bootcamp to another, chasing results they never quite achieve, or can’t maintain. Here’s why strength training, not bootcamp-style fitness, is the smarter long-term approach for your health and body. 1. Progress Over Punishment Bootcamps often focus on burning calories and pushing people to their limits every session. It feels intense — but it’s usually random. There’s no plan beyond “go hard”. Strength training is different. It’s measured, progressive, and adaptable . Whether you’re lifting a barbell or doing bodyweight movements, the goal is to build skill, strength, and confidence over time. You're not punished for where you're at — you're coached toward where you want to be. 2. Stronger Muscles = Better Results Cardio-heavy bootcamps might help you lose weight quickly, but they rarely help you build muscle, and muscle is the key to long-term fat loss, strength, and mobility . When you train with resistance (weights, bands, or bodyweight), your body becomes more efficient. You burn more calories at rest, move better, and feel more capable in everyday life. And unlike bootcamps, strength training actually preserves lean mass while you're in a calorie deficit — which matters if your goal is body composition, not just weight loss. 3. Individual Coaching Matters Most bootcamps have one instructor yelling instructions to a big group. There’s rarely time to check your technique, let alone adjust for injuries, experience, or confidence levels. At Rebuild, our group sessions are coach-led and purpose-built . We take time to teach proper form, scale movements to your ability, and track your progress. You're not just surviving a workout — you’re learning how to move better and train smarter. 4. It’s Not Just About Today’s Workout Bootcamps often lack structure. You show up, do something exhausting, and leave. There’s no continuity or long-term planning. Strength training follows a programmed approach , meaning each week builds on the last. You’ll have sessions designed to improve specific movements and outcomes — whether that’s lifting more weight, increasing core strength, or mastering your first pull-up. That structure keeps you consistent, motivated, and injury-free. 5. Sustainability Over Shock Tactics If you’re tired of the “go hard or go home” mentality, strength training is for you. It’s adaptable to all ages, bodies, and goals . You’ll get fitter, stronger, and more confident — without burning out or breaking down. Ready to train with purpose? If you're looking for something better than a bootcamp in Wynnum or Capalaba , join us at Rebuild. We coach real people — not fitness models — to get real results. 📍 Structured training 📍 Expert coaches 📍 Community that has your back You don’t need to be fit to start. You just need to start.
July 22, 2025
A lot of people have completed a marathon but how many people have collapsed at 40km?

Sometimes you do everything right, and shit still doesn’t go to plan.
 Last weekend I ran in the Gold Coast Marathon, my first ever marathon. I trained properly, my body felt relatively good (all things considered when preparing to run 42.2km), I carb-loaded, and my race day nutrition was dialled in.
 I was ready.
 We set off. Jess and the kids met me at different points on the course with signs, the atmosphere was great. I loved seeing the kids with their signs. Pacing felt on point. The first 21km? Easy. I felt great. Maybe I should’ve drunk more water, but I didn’t think too much of it at the time.
 At 25km, I felt slower, but pace wise I was still holding well. I’d kept telling myself throughout the day "The race starts at 30km." And let me tell you, it does.
 By 30km, the sun was out, and I was starting to struggle. My watch started glitching so I had no real idea of my splits. I thought I was slowing down a lot (turns out I wasn’t), but the effort to keep the same pace suddenly felt 10x harder.
 I hadn’t taken on enough water. Usually, I can get away with lower fluids. Not this time. Dehydration crept in. hard.
 At 35km I was in survival mode, one foot in front of the other, flicking between moments of pain and little short lived waves of “let’s go.” But by 39km I was delirious. I could see the finish line, I hit the 40km mark (where I thought enjoyment might return to finish), and I collapsed.
 I was gone. Scary stuff.
 The last few hundred metres were a complete blur. All I remember is the crowd, the medics, and about five paramedics suddenly around me. I was vomiting, shaking, confused, in and out of it. I had this overwhelming, indescribable feeling, and honestly, for a moment, I thought I could die.
 My memory went. I couldn’t recall the day, the year, where I lived, or how to spell. I only knew who Jess and the kids were, and that I didn’t want them to see me with wires in me. 
 My temperature had hit 40°C. Blood pressure crashed. Thankfully, the medics and paramedics were incredible, I had a drip running into me within 10 to 15 minutes.
 As I already knew, I’m stubborn. I wanted to run it all. Not walk. Not stop and breathe and In hindsight, I should have. 
 Seems like my mind was just a bit stronger than my body on the day. I never thought I could push myself there in all honesty. 

Am I gutted? Of course, I was only 2km away but I gave it everything I had on that day. Heat stroke, exhaustion, and dehydration got me. 

I am always reminded here of the quote ‘The man in the arena’ look it up if you need. 
 Will I run 42.2km again? Yes, I feel I need to. 

Would I do things differently, now I’ve run 40km under race conditions? You bet, lessons learnt. Always lessons. Never be scared to not succeed. Be scared to never try in the first place. 
 We go again.
By Caitlyn Davey July 8, 2025
You Need To Earn The Right To Be Good At Something
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