Best Physiotherapists in Palmerston North
We assessed 13 physiotherapists in Palmerston North and ranked the top 5 on public rating quality, review volume and how recent the reviews are. The businesses listed below hold 274 Google reviews between them. No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Last updated 3 September 2026. How we rank
Before you hire
Most physiotherapy for injuries, sports-related or otherwise, can be partly funded by ACC, which lowers the cost per visit, so ask whether the clinic lodges ACC claims directly. Check that practitioners are registered with the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand, and ask whether you will see the same physio each visit, as continuity matters for a treatment plan.
Top 5 Physiotherapists in Palmerston North
The top 5 physiotherapists in Palmerston North are #1 Rapha House Hand Therapy, #2 Movement IQ Physio, #3 Hand Rehab, #4 P3 Physiotherapy, and #5 Better Bodies Physiotherapy, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you book.
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1
Rapha House Hand Therapy Clinic
★ 5.0 139 reviews Top5 Score 1645★ 138 4★ 1Rapha House Hand Therapy gets results on wrist fractures, finger injuries, post-surgical arm recovery, and complex ongoing conditions where other clinics have not made progress. Their therapists take time each session to explain the mechanics of the injury and why each treatment step matters, and clients leave with specific home exercises that carry the recovery forward between visits.
Albert Medical Centre 192 Albert Street, Hokowhitu, Palmerston North
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2
Movement IQ Physio- Palmerston North
★ 5.0 26 reviews Top5 Score 1415★ 26Movement IQ Physio gets injured runners back on track, post-surgical shoulders rebuilt, and ruptured tendons through structured return-to-work timelines, with physios like Blessed, Lu, Dean, and Kerusha each treating specific goals rather than generic symptoms. For clients with recurring or stubborn injuries, they set milestones, monitor gym-based rehab, and adjust the programme as progress unfolds.
49 Walding Street, Palmerston North Central, Palmerston North
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3
Hand Rehab Palmerston North Hand Physiotherapy Clinic
★ 4.9 18 reviews Top5 Score 1355★ 17 3★ 1Hand Rehab focuses on hand, thumb, and wrist conditions, with therapists like Carla and Lena walking clients through assessments and treatment plans in plain, straightforward terms. Booking is open to self-referrals, and the clinic moves quickly from first contact to a thorough initial assessment without needing a GP to refer you in.
25 Princess Street, Palmerston North Central, Palmerston North
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4
P3 Physiotherapy NZ
★ 4.9 16 reviews Top5 Score 1335★ 15 4★ 1P3 Physiotherapy covers pelvic floor rehabilitation, frozen shoulder treatment, and deep tissue and fascia work, with named practitioners like Karmin, Claire, and Ari each drawing strong outcomes in their respective areas. Claire's work on birth-related pelvic injuries and frozen shoulder stands out for the care taken with sensitive conditions, while Karmin's hands-on massage and fascia treatment draws clients back for family bookings and ongoing sports maintenance.
16 Taonui Street, Palmerston North Central, Palmerston North
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5
Better Bodies Physiotherapy
★ 4.8 19 reviews Top5 Score 1325★ 18 1★ 1Better Bodies Physiotherapy covers back pain, shoulder injuries, and pelvic floor rehabilitation, with lead physio Tara working around each client's physical goals rather than asking them to stop moving. She approaches stubborn problems from multiple angles, builds specific rehab programmes, and runs sessions on time, which clients who have been through other clinics notice immediately.
216 Ferguson Street, Palmerston North Central, Palmerston North
Before you book a physiotherapist in Palmerston North
Drawn from 192 customer reviews collected for this page. The first answer is what it costs.
What does physiotherapy typically cost in New Zealand, and what does ACC cover?
For an accident-related injury, ACC subsidises a portion of your treatment cost, leaving a patient part-charge that varies by clinic. Part-charges for ACC-funded sessions run from around $20 to $50 per visit in most regions, though some clinics charge more.
For conditions not caused by an accident, such as chronic pain or pelvic floor issues, full private fees run roughly $60 to $120 per standard session. Clinics can lodge ACC claims directly, so you do not need a GP referral to start the injury pathway.
How do I check a physiotherapist is registered and qualified?
Every practising physiotherapist in New Zealand must hold a current annual practising certificate issued by the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand (PBANZ), the statutory body that oversees registration under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003. You can search the PBANZ public register for free at any time to confirm a practitioner's registration status, check whether their certificate is current, and see any conditions or restrictions on their scope of practice.
Some clinics list areas of special interest such as sports rehab, musculoskeletal, post-surgical, or pelvic health, which signals relevant experience beyond the baseline qualification. If something goes wrong, you can raise a formal complaint with the Health and Disability Commissioner, who can investigate and refer serious matters back to PBANZ.
How many sessions should treatment realistically take?
A straightforward injury, such as a rolled ankle or muscle strain, can show clear improvement within two to four sessions, and several reviewers describe getting back to running or full movement within weeks when given targeted home exercises. A good physio will give you a rough session estimate and measurable goals early on, and the home exercise programme matters as much as clinic time, as multiple reviewers credit their prescribed "homework" for speeding recovery. If you are several months into treatment with no clear milestones, no end point in sight, and no improvement between sessions, that is a reasonable moment to seek a second opinion.
What are the warning signs of a physiotherapy clinic you should avoid?
- –No clear treatment goals or expected session count are given after the initial assessment, leaving you on an open-ended weekly schedule.
- –You are passed between different practitioners each visit with no continuity, meaning no one builds a full picture of your case.
- –Sessions consist mainly of heat packs, ultrasound, or machines with little hands-on work or active rehabilitation.
- –The clinic is vague or evasive when you ask about ACC part-charges before your first appointment.
- –Progress is never measured or discussed, and exercises are not updated as your condition changes.
- –One review described a situation where months passed with no movement exercises prescribed, leading to a preventable second surgery, which illustrates the real cost of passive, goal-free treatment.
What should you ask before booking a physiotherapist?
- –Ask whether they lodge ACC claims directly and what the exact patient part-charge is per session, so there are no surprises at the desk.
- –Ask whether you will see the same physio at every appointment, since continuity of care matters for complex or long-running injuries.
- –Ask how many sessions they expect your specific problem to take and what progress should look like by the midpoint.
- –Ask whether they prescribe home exercises, because reviewers whose physios gave structured "homework" recovered faster than those who only attended clinic visits.
- –Ask whether the physio has direct experience with your injury type, such as post-surgical hand rehab, pelvic floor conditions, spinal injury, or sports-related tendon damage, since specialist experience produces better outcomes than a generalist approach.
Also recommended physiotherapists in Palmerston North
Ranked 6 to 10 on the same public review record.
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6
Churchyard Physiotherapy
★ 4.8 12 reviews Top5 Score 1295★ 11 2★ 1Churchyard Physiotherapy works well for people dealing with back problems, with physios like Jiwon using vertebrae models to explain exactly what has happened and why specific exercises will help. Clients report noticeable improvement between sessions from following the prescribed home exercises, and the space is step-free and accessible for wheelchair users.
193 Broadway Avenue, Palmerston North Central, Palmerston North
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7
TBI Health Physiotherapy, Sports & Spinal Rehabilitation Clinic Palmerston North
★ 5.0 9 reviews Top5 Score 1275★ 9TBI Health takes on significant injuries, including spinal trauma that left one client unable to walk and shoulder injuries requiring extended recovery, with named physios like Paul and Arvee guiding clients through to a clear discharge point. Clients describe feeling treated as a whole person rather than a set of symptoms, with practical advice extending well beyond the injury itself.
175 Grey Street, City Centre, Palmerston North
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8
Active+ Palmerston North
★ 4.5 23 reviews Top5 Score 1255★ 19 4★ 1 3★ 1 1★ 2Active+ coordinates physiotherapy, hand therapy, and concussion rehabilitation across a multidisciplinary team, meaning clients recovering from serious injuries like MVA trauma or post-surgical wrist and hand conditions can access physios, OTs, and other specialists without leaving the building. Named practitioners like Breanna, Bethany, Peter, Tim, and Andi each bring specific clinical focus, and clients report returning to running, sport, and full hand function as concrete outcomes.
663 Tremaine Avenue, Palmerston North Central, Palmerston North
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9
Active+ Feilding
★ 4.8 9 reviews Top5 Score 1255★ 7 4★ 2Active+ Feilding brings people through post-surgical shoulder rehab, ongoing shoulder conditions, and pilates-based back rehabilitation with named practitioners like Katie and Fran each working closely with their clients. Reviewers describe reaching full recovery after surgery and building lasting back strength through regular pilates sessions, with Fran's classes drawing clients back week after week.
123 Manchester Street, Feilding
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10
Nichole Cobham Physiotherapy & Pelvic Health
★ 5.0 3 reviews Top5 Score 1145★ 3We generate summaries once a business has enough reviews for a reliable sample.
16 Ashley Street, Palmerston North Central, Palmerston North
About this ranking
What the 10 physiotherapists listed above hold, at the 3 September 2026 check.
Across the 14 locations we assess physiotherapists in, the 140 businesses listed have a median rating of 4.9, and one-star reviews are 1.2% of their total.
How are the top physiotherapists in Palmerston North chosen?
We build this page from Google Maps results for physiotherapists in Palmerston North. Each one is scored on its public rating and review record. Businesses outside the area, or whose reviews describe a different line of work, are left out, and a business whose main Google category is a different trade is held back until a person has checked what it does. A business whose website no longer resolves and that has had no Google review for six months is treated as dormant and left off the page until either changes. Every category and city is rechecked on a rolling cycle, about every two to three months. A location with a subscribing business is rechecked every month, and the whole page updates with it. See how we rank for the full method.
What does a business subscription offer?
No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Claiming and verifying a listing is free. It adds a phone number to the card and a small trust bonus (+3 points) to its score, for confirming a real operator stands behind the listing. The owner also gets a dashboard showing how their score is made up. A paid subscription provides an enhanced card with more ways to reach the business, including a website link and a detailed profile page. It also refreshes this page monthly and adds ranking history and competitor analysis to the owner's dashboard. The subscription adds nothing to the score. Claim your listing or see what a subscription includes.
Why isn't my business listed?
We build this page from Google Maps results for physiotherapists in Palmerston North. The usual reasons for missing out are a Google Business category that does not match, too few reviews to score near the top, or an address outside the area we cover. Sometimes we miss a business that should be here. Check where you rank first. If you are not there and think you should be, get in touch.