Physiotherapy
Who benefits from physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy treatment can help people of all ages to relieve pain and restore normal movement, allowing the body to function more efficiently. Normal posture and alignment can also be restored to prevent recurrence and to allow a speedy recovery.
What conditions can be treated?
Physiotherapists can treat almost all conditions which cause pain, weakness, stiffness and / or loss of movement.
What can I expect when I receive treatment?
Following a thorough assessment, we provide each person with a diagnosis of their condition; an individual treatment plan with approximate duration; and likely outcome. We discuss every stage with you. The treatment will be monitored and if necessary adjusted, to ensure that agreed and realistic outcomes can be achieved.
How many treatments will I need?
We do not have a set number of treatments for any condition – everyone is an individual. Following your first appointment the physiotherapist will discuss the anticipated number of treatments. You will be reassessed on each visit and if progress plateaus out or if no improvement seems apparent then your treatment will be altered accordingly or you will be referred to a specialist.
Will I be expected to do anything in between treatments?
We work with you to ensure your recovery is optimal and to minimise the chances of any relapse. Therefore, you will be given lots of things to think about and do during the week. Most people are given an exercise programme to be completed between appointments. What you do between treatments is just as important as your treatment.
Is physiotherapy treatment appropriate for back and neck problems?
Chartered Physiotherapists are qualified to treat all spinal problems. In fact, a large percentage of their workload consists of neck and back problems.
Can a physiotherapist manipulate?
Yes, all Chartered Physiotherapists with the appropriate postgraduate training can manipulate.
Is it correct that heat and ice can be used to treat injuries?
They are useful in the correct circumstances. Your physiotherapist will advise you on when and how to use these for your condition.
Should I stop my sports activity if I have suffered an injury?
This largely depends on the nature of your condition and the sports activity in which you compete. Your physiotherapist will be able to advise you on this following your initial assessment.
How do I know if a physiotherapist is fully qualified?
All our Chartered Physiotherapists have undergone the required training and passed the necessary exams to enable them to practice. At Physio & More, we verify the qualifications of all our staff before allowing them to practice at the clinic. When you know the name of your physiotherapist you can look up their registration on the HCPC website.
Appointments
Is there a waiting list for treatment?
No and we will always try to see you within 24 hours especially if you are in pain.
Do I have to be referred by a doctor?
No, anyone can refer themselves for treatment. If you wish to use medical insurance to claim for treatment costs, some policies require a GP referral letter.
How long appointments last?
Your first appointment will take an hour and includes a full assessment & treatment. Follow-up appointments are generally for 60 minutes depending on the condition.
Should I have medical notes and X-rays at hand?
X-rays / scan results / medical notes are not normally required but if you have recent ones of an injury please bring them with you it may help your physiotherapist during the assessment.
What should I wear for the appointment?
Dress comfortably in loose fitting clothes.
Women
If you have neck, upper back, shoulder, elbow or hand problems please bring a t-shirt. If you have lower back pain, please bring a shorts and a t-shirt. If you have hip, knee, ankle or foot problems please bring shorts.
Men
If you have lower back, hip, knee ankle or foot problems please bring shorts.
Fees & Payment
What are your payment terms?
Payment is taken at the time of booking or prior to your appointment. We accept cash, Visa card, MasterCard and American Express. If authorisation is gained from an insurer / solicitor / case manager we may be able to invoice them directly for your treatment.
I have private health insurance – am I covered with you?
Physio & More work with most health insurance companies; you will need to check with your insurance company prior to treatment as some companies require a referral from a Doctor beforehand. They will give you an authorisation code and advise you of how many treatments they are willing to pay for. You need to bring details of your policy with you to your first appointment together with the authorisation code.
If I have private health insurance do I need to pay for treatment?
Each insurer is different in the way that they operate as far as payment is concerned. Some require you to pay for your own treatment and then claim the costs back while others allow us to invoice them directly. You will have to pay for your appointments unless you have authorisation details from your insurer and we recognise them. We will provide you with a receipt with which you can attempt to claim the cost of the appointment from them but please be aware that not all health insurance companies will repay the full cost and in particular AXA and BUPA will often reimburse you at a lower rate than the standard cost of the appointment when you do not have authorisation. It is therefore in your own interest to seek authorisation in advance of treatment. There is more information about health insurance including the companies we are able to settle directly with here.
Ultrasound
Is ultrasound safe?
Ultrasound is safe, non-invasive, and doesn’t involve radiation, hence it is used for various purposes, such as checking the health of a baby during pregnancy, examining organs like the heart or liver, or guiding medical procedures.
Is there preparation for an ultrasound scan?
For all ultrasound scans, wearing appropriate clothing to enable access or exposure of that area is appreciated. The sonographer will place a small amount of gel on your skin and touch your skin with the ultrasound transducer to produce the images required for the scan.
They might require your assistance with repositioning or holding your breath to optimise the images on the screen, or movement of your limbs and joints as part of a dynamic assessment.
For scans of the abdomen and pelvis, we request that you fast for at least 4 hours to limit how much gas is in your bowels to give our sonographers the best chance to visualise internal organs.
For scans of the bladder and kidneys, we request that you are well-hydrated and if possible, prefer that you refrain from going to the bathroom for at least 90 mins prior to your appointment to ensure your bladder is reasonably full.
What can I expect during my ultrasound appointment?
The sonographer will place a small amount of gel on your skin and touch your skin with the ultrasound transducer to produce the images required for the scan.
How long does it take to receive my results?
Our team works hard to turn our patient’s reports around as quickly as possible. Generally you will receive your report in 2-3 working days.
Can I get the report sent to another clinician?
Your reports will be sent to you and the referrer who requested the procedure. We can also send results to other healthcare practitioners you nominate.