Your first visit - what to expect?
At your first appointment we will ask you questions about....
The problem
How and when it started
How it is behaving
Any medication you are taking (and if it is helping)
What you think may have caused it
What it is preventing you from doing, any activities or sleeping
What you can and cannot do because of this problem
This questioning gives us an indication of what particular type of structure is causing the problem and also whether we have to be gentle with you because the tissues affected are very sensitised.
We will then examine the problem area, this usually means undressing down to underwear (if you would be more comfortable please bring along a pair of shorts to wear). This is necessary so we can see how the body moves and what is restricted.
During the examination we generally look at how joints, muscles and nerves can move as well as looking at posture and specific muscle strength. This will also involve detailed palpation of those structures we feel are causing the problem, this doesn’t always match what the patient thinks as “referred pain”, meaning that someone may come in with what they think was a knee problem and we identify their hip, pelvis and lower back is the source of the pain!
Treatment is dependant on the needs of the patient and their condition at that particular time and may involve the use of gentle manipulative therapy; soft tissue massage; electrotherapy (Laser, Ultrasound, Interferential, Pulsed Shortwave); acupuncture; specific exercises to stretch or strengthen muscles; posture advice; advice on daily activities.
We specialise in:
Musculoskeletal problems (muscles, bones and joints)
Sports Injuries, both acute and chronic
Whiplash injury
Headaches
Hand injuries
Women's health and continence problems
Chronic pain
Neurological problems (stroke, head injury, parkinsons)
Easing pain from any injury, ache or strain
If you have a problem and are unsure whether we can help then give us a call and speak to one of the Physiotherapists.