What’s the difference between sports rehab and physiotherapy in practical terms? For a more in depth on “what is physio?” click here: physiotherapy, in short, physios deal with a wide spectrum of injuries and illnesses, and in terms of injuries they deal with really bad ones, like rehab after a hearth attack, as well as others, like whiplash, sprained ankles, hip replacement etc. What about sports rehab/therapy? Read here: sports rehabilitation. and here: sports therapy . The difference is that physios deal with pretty much the same that sports therapists/rehabbers, AND tons of other issues, involving less healthy people. Sports therapist and rehabbers are geared towards the movement of “healthier” people with “muscle”, “back”, “knee”, “shoulder” etc. issues, and they may have more education in more demanding movement activities (hence “sport”) than everyday life stuff than physios. If you had a whiplash, or some serious operation, probably better see a physio, if you “pulled” your back, sprained and ankle, got foot pain after a long hike, you can see either. If you are doing cross fit, run a lot, lift weights in the gym, work a physically demanding job, do martial arts, yoga, any type of fairly intense activity on a regular basis, and have “shoulder impingement” when benching or shoulder pressing, bit of pain and discomfort at the knee when squatting and lunging etc., you can see either with emphasis on seeing a sports rehabber and therapists, as their focus is exactly that.