Help?
What to know
The Initial Consultation
Ongoing Treatments
Will Physiotherapy be appropriate to help my problem?
What should I wear?
What if I need to see a specialist?
What if I need an X-ray or a scan?
What if I need orthotics (corrective insoles)?
What do I do if I can’t attend for my appointment?
How do I make payment?
Will I be able to return to sport?
Will you be able to supply me with a sick note for work?
Will it hurt?
Are your Physiotherapists registered with my insurance company?
What to know
First of all you do not need to be referred for Physiotherapy treatment by your doctor, you can just telephone our clinic and usually you will be able to get an appointment for the same day with one of our Physiotherapists. Due to our ability to get you in quickly for assessment and treatment it means we can begin rehabilitation immediately and return you to full fitness sooner.
You cannot receive treatment without first undergoing the initial assessment as the Physiotherapist will need to determine the nature and cause of the problem in order to administer the appropriate treatment. Even if you have seen another therapist or doctor recently as professionals we need to make our own assessments to re-evaluate your condition. This ensures that nothing has been missed or changed since previous treatment and gives us an objective marker of your current condition.
The Initial Consultation
On arrival at the clinic you will be greeted by a member of our staff and offered a hot or cold drink. You will then be asked to take a seat and complete a registration/ consent form. Following this you will be called through by the Physiotherapist who will need to ask you a series of questions relating to your condition/ injury such as:
- When and how you injury or condition first appeared?
- How the condition/ injury has progressed?
- Aggravating and easing factors?
- Type and site of pain?
- Any previous treatment you have had and how you responded?
- Have any investigations been done? (X-rays, scans, blood tests)
This series of questioning is very important as it enables the Physiotherapist to exclude certain conditions and pinpoint the nature of your problem.
The Physiotherapist will also need to take details of your medical history including any major illnesses or operations you have had in the past and details of medication you may be taking. These details are important as some Physiotherapy treatments are contraindicated in certain medical conditions or when the patient is taking certain medications.
Once this part of the assessment is complete the Physiotherapist should already have an idea of what the problem is. Next you will undergo a physical assessment involving specific movements, measurements and specialised tests, which will enable diagnosis.
During the physical assessment you may need to undress to enable the Physiotherapist to assess accurately the structure at fault, the Physiotherapist will ensure that dignity is maintained at all times for example if you are attending with a knee problem it would be beneficial if you could bring a pair of shorts with you.
Some of the tests during the physical assessment may be painful but this is necessary to find a positive production of your symptoms to enable accurate identification of your problem.
The initial consultation will last approximately 30- 40 minutes, after the physical examination your Physiotherapist will discuss with your condition and symptoms with you and explain the findings of their assessment. They will go on to explain the appropriate treatment needed and the estimated course of recovery with, if possible estimated time to return to sport/work.
During this session there is normally time to commence some form of treatment, this is normally in the form of advice, education of what you should and should not be doing so as not to interfere with and slow down the recovery process and a home exercise plan for you to begin with.
Ongoing Treatments
Ongoing treatment sessions last approximately 30 minutes. During the follow up session the Physiotherapist will ask how your symptoms are and how they are progressing and they will compare this to the clinical findings of the physical assessment.The treatment that you receive will depend on the type of problem you have and any medical conditions you have which may be a contraindication for certain types of treatment. Some of the treatments offered include massage, mobilisation techniques, manipulation, electrotherapy (ultrasound) and acupuncture.
Will Physiotherapy be appropriate to help my problem?
Physiotherapy can be of benefit in numerous problems, however to determine whether Physiotherapy is the appropriate course of treatment for your problem you will need to undergo the initial assessment. From this the Physiotherapist will be able to identify the cause of your symptoms and discuss an appropriate course of action.
What should I wear?
It is important to wear comfortable clothing for the assessment to allow you to move freely to perform the movements the Physiotherapist will need to observe and analyse.
You may need to undress for parts of the assessment to enable the Physiotherapist to see the area affected. For example if you are coming with an ankle or a knee problem it would be helpful if you could wear shorts, if it is a shoulder problem then ladies may feel more comfortable wearing a vest top. We will ensure that dignity is maintained at all times during the assessment and all ongoing treatment. If you would prefer to be treated by a Physiotherapist of the same sex then this can bee arranged. If you have any further questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact us, and speak to a member of our staff on 01270 619430 or email us at therapies@ctcphysio.co.uk
What if I need to see a specialist?
Your Physiotherapist will discuss with you if they feel it is appropriate for you to see a specialist, they will talk to you and discuss the reasons for and benefits of a specialist opinion. You may be referred to a specialist for further investigation (MRI scan/ x-ray) or the specialist may think that you are an appropriate candidate for surgery. We work closely alongside many orthopaedic specialists who your Physiotherapist will recommend and can put you in contact with. We can also provide you with detailed reports for you to take with you when you see a specialist informing them of our findings and our intervention, if you have any further questions regarding this please contact us and speak to a member of our staff on 01270 619430 or email us at therapies@ctcphysio.co.uk
What if I need an X-ray or a scan?
Your Physiotherapist will discuss with you whether this type of investigation is required. You can either get these done on the NHS or privately; we can give you details of where to go and prices for these types of investigations privately if it is appropriate. Your Physiotherapist can also write a cover letter to send to your doctor detailing their findings before you undertake any investigations. For any further questions regarding this issue please contact us on 01270 619430 and speak to a member of our staff or email us at therapies@ctcphysio.co.uk
What if I need orthotics (corrective insoles)?
We have lots of different insoles on sale in our clinics. Your Physiotherapists will advise you about these things if they feel they are needed after you have undertaken you assessment. Prices vary depending on the type of insole needed. If we do not have the appropriate insole in stock then a member of staff will order it for you, orders usually take 48 hours to arrive at the clinic.
If you require a specialist assessment for orthotics then we will be able to refer you to see someone either privately or on the NHS. We work closely with a number of specialists in this area who you Physiotherapist will be able to recommend to you, a cover letter detailing our findings can also be provided. If you require further details regarding the orthotics we stock and prices do not hesitate to contact us on 0121 619430 and speak to a member of our staff or email us at therapies@ctcphysio.co.uk
What do I do if I can’t attend for my appointment?
If you cannot attend for your appointment then you need to contact the clinic as soon as you can. A charge will be made if you do not give 24 hours notice for your cancellation. If you are phoning over the weekend to cancel an appointment for the following week then you may leave a message for our staff which will be picked up on the Monday.
How do I make payment?
Payments are required after every treatment; we accept payments by cash, cheque, credit or debit card. If you are covered by an insurance company for treatment then you need to bring along the details when you attend for your initial appointment i.e. claim number, policy number, any referral letter or documentation and the name and address of the company. When we receive these details we can invoice the insurance company directly for the cost of treatment.
Will I be able to return to sport?
All our Physiotherapists have experience in sports related injury. When you attend for your initial assessment your Physiotherapist will be able to give you an indication of the nature and severity of your injury and from this formulate a plan and timescale for your return to sporting activity.
Will you be able to supply me with a sick note for work?
Physiotherapists are not legally allowed to provide you with an absence note for your employer, this needs to be done by your G.P. which sometimes comes with a small charge. Your Physiotherapist may offer you advice regarding whether you are fit to be at work depending on the nature of your condition but it is the decision of your G.P to supply you with a sick note.
Will it hurt?
During the initial assessment it may be appropriate for the physiotherapist to perform certain tests that will produce or provoke you pain, this is necessary to gain a differential diagnosis and therefore commence the appropriate treatment.
Certain treatment techniques can be painful but your Physiotherapist will make you aware of this before treatment commences and explain to you the advantages of and the reasons for that type of treatment.
Are your Physiotherapists registered with my insurance company?
Our Physiotherapists are registered with most major insurance companies. Common insurance companies we deal with are:
- BUPA
- Axa PPP
- Norwich Union
- WPA
- Healthshield
- Mediscreen
- Physiomed
- Multiplex
- TICCS
- HSA
- Standard Life
- Remedy
If your insurance company is not listed above please contact us on 01270 619430 to find out whether we are registered, or if you speak to your insurance company directly they will be able to inform you if our Physiotherapists are on their list of registrants.
IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS REGARDING PHYSIOTHERAPY OR ANY OF OUR SERVICES AVAILABLE PLEASE CALL US ON 01270 619430 AND SPEAK TO A MEMBER OF OUR STAFF OR EMAIL US AT therapies@ctcphysio.co.uk
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