Frequently Asked Questions
What is Physiotherapy?
What conditions are suitable for treatment by
physiotherapy?
What do treatments involve?
How many treatments will I need?
What is a Chartered Physiotherapist?
Can physiotherapists perform spinal manipulations?
What should I bring with me on my initial appointment?
Can I bring someone with me?
Can I claim the cost of my physiotherapy on my private
medical insurance?
What is Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy is a science-based healthcare profession concerned with
human function, movement and maximising individual potential. Physiotherapists
aim to identify and make the most of movement ability by accurate assessment,
treatment and rehabilitation, preventative advice and health promotion.
Physical approaches are used to promote, maintain and restore physical,
psychological and social well-being, taking account of variations in health
status.
Core skills used by Chartered Physiotherapists at Physio Solutions include
manual therapy, therapeutic exercise and the application of electro-physical
modalities such as ultrasound, interferential therapy, muscle stimulation
and bio-feedback. Massage therapy, acupuncture, trigger point needling
and pilates-based exercise are also regularly used skills. Our physiotherapists
also advise on issues such as posture correction, return to exercise and
fitness, specific training following injury for sports events such as
marathons and triathlons, workplace ergonomics, paced return to work programmes
following injury or illness and general exercise.
What conditions are suitable for treatment
by physiotherapy?
Physiotherapists work in a great variety of settings such as orthopaedics,
intensive care, paediatrics, mental illness, stroke recovery, occupational
health, ergonomics, musculoskeletal treatment in hospitals and private
practice, and care of the elderly.
Physio Solutions is a private clinic specialising in treating musculo-skeletal
out-patients.
Our physiotherapists successfully advise on and treat a wide variety of
injuries and conditions such as:
- Back and neck problems: pain, stiffness, muscle cramping, muscle weakness, whiplash, headaches and postural issues.
- Work related disorders: Upper limb disorders often known as repetitive strain injury (RSI), hand and wrist pains, aching, cramping, work-related back problems.
- Muscle and ligament problems e.g. tennis elbow, golfers elbow, sprained ankles, weakness and stiffness after fractures or other injuries.
- Sports related injuries for both professional and amateur athletes.
- Exercise and sports-related problems: shin splints, biomechanical problems, muscle and joint pains.
- Postural problems such as rounded shoulders, forward chin posture, abnormal spinal postures such as scoliosis.
- Post-operative: following joint arthroscopies, knee and hip joint replacement, cartilage and ligament repairs, back surgery both microscopic and open surgery.
What do treatments involve?
The aim of a physiotherapy treatment is to help overcome symptoms of the
problem and to prevent recurrence. At the initial assessment a full history
of the problem is taken along with other details such as previous medical
history and injury, exercise regimes and work and hobby demands. A physical
examination of the affected area and possible related areas is then carried
out. From this information, a tailored treatment programme is formulated
for each individual including outcome goals for treatment and a possible
time span for treatment. The treatment programme is reviewed and updated
at each appointment in order to accommodate individual responses to the
programme.
For example, a treatment programme may aim to:
- relieve pain
- restore normal movement and function
- build strength and return the patient to normal sports and activities following an injury or operation
- retrain specific muscles following injury, disuse, or poor movement habits
- provide a home programme of exercises to correct or improve a particular condition
- advise on work ergonomics, posture habits, exercise programmes etc.
Treatment can include the following:
- Mobilisation and manipulation of the joints and tissues
- Exercise therapy to mobilise and strengthen weakened or inactive muscles
- Electrical treatments (electrotherapy) including ultrasound and interferential therapy
- Trigger point acupuncture for pain conditions
- Advice on return to exercise and resumption of sporting activities
- Advice on pacing activities and ergonomic strategies for upper limb disorders
Measures to prevent recurrence often include reviewing or revising training programmes in the case of sports injuries and musicians and looking at ergonomic factors such as the patient’s posture and general work area.
How many treatments will I need?
This usually depends on factors such as how long the problem has been
present, the severity of the condition and also the requirements of the
patient. For example, a person wishing to get back to training for a specific
sport or event may require a longer course of treatment for a knee injury
than a sedentary office-worker.
A fairly standard course of physiotherapy would be 4-6 treatment sessions but this can vary considerably. A person seeking advice on what they should and shouldn’t be doing in relation to their condition or problem might just attend for 1-2 sessions to be shown some specific exercises and receive some general management advice for their condition. Similarly an individual with a relatively minor injury might just need a few treatments to assess their condition and alleviate their symptoms. At the other end of the scale, a patient receiving treatment post-operatively or for a condition that has been present for some time may require treatment over a longer period to see them through to full rehabilitation.
What is a Chartered Physiotherapist?
All of our physiotherapists at Physio Solutions clinic are Chartered
and are also registered with the Health Professions Council (HPC). A Chartered
Physiotherapist is a member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
(CSP) which is the professional organisation of the profession. This means
that the physiotherapist has undergone an approved course of training
(usually a 3-4 year degree course), is governed by a professional code
of practice and is also fully insured to provide treatment services within
their scope of practice. The HPC is a statutory regulator that works to
protect the health and well-being of people using the services of the
health professionals registered with it. They only register professionals
who meet their standards for their professional skills, behaviour and
health.
Can physiotherapists perform spinal manipulations?
Manipulation has been found to be very helpful in acute conditions and
many patients find it very beneficial for the early relief of symptoms.
Physiotherapists who are trained in manipulative therapy often perform
spinal manipulation as part of a course of treatment if indicated. All
of our physiotherapists at Physio Solutions have advanced manual therapy
skills and many of them may perform spinal manipulations with the consent
of the patient.
What should I bring with me on my initial appointment?
- A Referral letter from your GP or consultant if you have one
- Your full insurance details if you wish us to claim our fees directly from your private health insurers and you have notified them of your claim.
- Insurance claim form if you require the physiotherapist to fill it in, (many insurers require your GP or referring doctor to fill in this form so check with your insurers)
- Any x-rays or scan results that you may have relating to your injury or condition.
- Clothing : Some people like to bring their own shorts if the problem relates to a spinal or lower limb problem, (we do keep some shorts in the clinic that you are welcome to borrow). Ladies sometimes prefer wearing a sleeveless, vest-style top if treatment is centred on their neck, shoulder or upper limb region.
Can I bring someone with me?
You are very welcome to bring someone with you to your appointment and
they can sit in on the consultation and treatment with you if you wish.
Can I claim the cost of my
physiotherapy on my private medical insurance?
Physio Solutions Clinic is recognised by the major private health insurance
companies for physiotherapy treatment. Often, a patient has to be referred
by their GP or specialist in order to claim the cost of their physiotherapy
treatment through their private medical insurance. We do strongly recommend
that patients contact their insurance company before commencing
treatment to check and confirm individual policy conditions relating to
a claim.
Special questions to check with the insurance company are:
- Is there an excess on the policy? i.e. the policy holder has to pay for part of the treatment themselves.
- How much insurance cover is available? e.g. set number of treatments or monetary limit.
- Is the financial assistance provided for physiotherapy treatment alone or is it part of an overall sum for specialist services. This is important if a Consultant is involved or if further investigations are being considered.
- Is there a time limit for the treatment to take place.
In certain instances with some insurance companies Physio Solutions clinic will invoice the insurance company directly. If you wish for the clinic to provide this service it is important that you bring all your insurance details and a completed claim form with you (if required), to your first appointment.
