Physio Therapy
Massage Therapy
What is Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy is the treatment of disease, injury or weakness in the joints or muscles by means of exercise, massage and the use of specialist electrotherapeutic and electrophysical agents, such as shockwave therapy.
It is designed to improve function in affected
areas and can also help to reduce the risk of further injury or weakness going forward.
Physiotherapy is suitable for the treatment of a very wide range of conditions in patients of all ages.
Treatment is tailored to the patient’s own needs,
which can include reduced pain, improved strength or greater range of motion, and often involves a mixture of clinical sessions and exercise programmes to be followed at home, as well as guidance on lifestyle changes you can make to improve your symptoms.
What conditions do you treat?
- Neck pain (including non-specific neck pain and radiculopathy)
- Shoulder pain (including frozen shoulder and rotator cuff pain)
- Tennis elbow
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Sciatica and other lower back pain
- Post-operative hip and knee replacement pain
- Foot pain (including plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinopathy)
- Muscle weakness
- Arthritis
What can I expect during treatment?
Initial consultation
On arrival at the clinic, you will be guided through a detailed clinical consultation which will allow
your physiotherapist to gain a deeper understanding of your symptoms and their potential causes.
You can expect to be asked about your day-to-day activities, your medical history and your symptoms, as well as certain lifestyle questions (including diet, exercise and drinking/smoking habits).
This enables your physiotherapist to be confident that physiotherapy is going to be a safe and effective treatment option.
Physical examination
During your consultation, your physiotherapist will carry out a structured physical exam.
This will allow your physiotherapist to establish which movements and postures improve or worsen your symptoms, and to understand the mechanisms which may be contributing to your discomfort. This exam can include, but is not limited to:
Palpation:
- Your physiotherapist will perform a hands-on examination to check for tenderness and/or heating which may indicate inflammation, and assess the quality of the muscles, joints and tissue in the affected area.
Observation:
- You will be asked to sit and/or stand to allow your physiotherapist to assess your posture and identify possible causes for your symptom/s. You may also be asked to walk back and forth to assess the way that you move and any habits you may have adopted to compensate for your symptoms. This can also help to identify any neurological factors which may be contributing to your condition.
Palpation:
- Your physiotherapist will perform a hands-on examination to check for tenderness and/or heating which may indicate inflammation, and assess the quality of the muscles, joints and tissue in the affected area.
Active and Passive Range of Motion (AROM & PROM) Assessment:
- This allows your physiotherapist to measure the range of motion in your joints (‘goniometry’). It involves an active phase, where you perform a movement, and a passive phase, where your physiotherapist will complete a movement for you. Together, active and passive assessment enables your physiotherapist to understand the cause of your functional limitations.
Strength and Power Assessment:
- This allows your physiotherapist to assess whether muscle weakness is affecting your symptoms, or whether weakness is the result of pain or of another condition.
Other Tests:
- Your physiotherapist may also require you to complete one or more specialist muscular, joint or neurological tests to assist diagnosis.
What therapies are available?
Alongside advice and education around simple changes you can make in your daily life that could
help to reduce your symptoms and improve your functionality, your treatment programme will include one or more of the following categories of therapy:
- Exercise therapy
- Manual therapy (including soft tissue work, massage therapy and Maitland Technique mobilisation)
- Electrotherapy (including ultrasound, shockwave and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapies)
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