What is Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy is a healthcare profession concerned with human function and movement, treating and preventing injuries by natural means. The aim is to help alleviate pain, restore normal movement and function by speeding up the healing process, and help return the body to its usual balanced state.
What happens during a Physiotherapy session?
Taking the time to accurately understand and assess your condition is essential to successful results. Initially, we will explore the reason you are seeking treatment, review the problem area, and make a full assessment. Once the condition is diagnosed we develop an effective treatment plan that takes into account your lifestyle, leisure activities and general health, and includes advice on how you can help yourself. We will explain the condition and treatment plan with you, and answer any questions you may have.
An integrated treatment plan may include:- Exercise programmes—designed to improve mobility and strengthen muscles, for example, Pilates
- Manipulation and mobilisation of joints and soft tissues—to reduce pain and stiffness
- Acupuncture—using very fine needles to decrease pain and speed up healing
- Massage—with or without aromatherapy oils to mobilise soft tissues
- Electrotherapy—for example, ultrasound to speed up healing
We can, with your consent, discuss our findings with your GP for appropriate medical advice.
Our Integrated Approach
 |
AcupunctureAcupuncture is one of the many skills used within physiotherapy as an integrated approach to the management of pain, inflammation and as a means of enhancing the body's own healing chemicals. Treatment using very fine needles, inserted at specific acupuncture points on the body, can help relieve the symptoms of a number of physical conditions. Acupuncture aims to help the body to heal naturally, improving recovery time and enhancing other physiotherapy treatments. |
 |
PilatesWe offer relaxed, informal Pilates classes in small groups. For details download a PDF here. Joseph Pilates called the very large group of muscles in the center of the body; abdomen, lower back, hips, and buttocks the "powerhouse". All energy for Pilates exercises emanates from the powerhouse and flows outward to the extremities. Pilates movements emphasise awareness of breathing and alignment of the spine, and aims to strengthen the core postural muscles which will provide stability and balance. Practising this control helps not only back problems but knee, ankle and shoulders... in fact, every part of the body! |
 |
MassageMassage is the treatment and practice of manipulation of the soft body tissues. Working on a specific joint, muscle or muscle group, deeper layers of the soft tissue can be reached with the aim of relieving pain and increasing movement. Sports massage incorporates all Swedish massage movements, together with additional intensive techniques that are specifically designed to prevent and treat sports injuries. Aromatherapy uses essential oils to affect a person's mood or health, and to stimulate the immune system. The oils may be used in a blend as part of soft tissue massage techniques. |
 |
ElectrotherapyElectrotherapy methods such as Ultrasound and Interferential therapy are used to treat injuries to soft tissues. It is thought that electrotherapy helps decrease pain, improves localised blood flow and speeds up the rate of healing. |