Physiotherapy

At Good Health Centre we use physiotherapy to help treat and improve a wide range of physical conditions.Our physiotherapists have a special interest in treating:

• Joint problems including arthritis and injury causing pain, swelling and stiffness in joints
• Work related conditions such as Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)
• Neck and back problems including slipped/prolapsed discs, arthritis, sciatica, lumbago, and neck pain and stiffness
• Sports and dance injuries to muscles, ligaments, cartilage and tendons
• Soft tissue problems such as tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow, tendonitis and frozen shoulder.

Physiotherapy can also help:

• Fractures – treatment can increase how quickly you heal and help you gain full function once your bones have healed
• Abdominal problems – such as colitis and irritable bowel syndrome
• Gynaecological conditions – including stress incontinence and rehabilitation after surgery
• Pregnancy and childbirth – including treatment for back and pelvic pain
• Chest conditions – such as asthma, chest infections, cystic fibrosis, emphysema, bronchitis and bronchiectasis
• Neurological conditions – such as strokes, head injuries, nerve injuries, multiple sclerosis, shingles, cerebral palsy and chronic fatigue
• Paediatric conditions – including postural and walking problems in childhood
• Circulatory problems – such as Raynaud’s disease, intermittent claudication (a clinical diagnosis given for muscle pain) and cardiac rehabilitation
• Rehabilitation after surgery.

Our experienced physiotherapists use a range of techniques to treat their patients to achieve the best results.

• Manipulation and mobilisation of joints This technique helps to relieve pain and stiffness. Soft tissue release techniques can improve your posture, flexibility and function.
• Massage A gentle technique, massage can be used to improve blood flow and help fluid to drain away, making it easier to move parts of the body and to relieve pain and help relaxation.
• Exercise and movement Your physiotherapist may prescribe different types of exercises to strengthen the body and improve your range of movement. These could include some general, gentle exercise such as walking or swimming, or specific exercises to target certain areas of your body.
• Electrotherapy This physiotherapy techniqueuses small electrical impulses to stimulate the nervous system. This causes a ‘tingly feeling’ as it makes certain muscles contract or squeeze, reducing pain and helping the muscles heal themselves. Ultrasound may also be used to reduce soft tissue swelling and pain and to promote healing.

On your first visit to the Good Health Centre, your physiotherapist will first take a detailed history of your condition, together with any important past medical problems and treatments. We advise you to wear loose clothing in which you feel comfortable moving.You may need to remove some items of clothing to allow a full examination of the injured area.

Your physiotherapist will physically assess you to diagnose your problem and discuss a treatment plan with you. They will then use the appropriate physical techniques to treat your condition and demonstrate and explain the exercises you should continue at home.

Chartered Physiotherapists undertake three or four years of full-time university study. During this time they complete over 1,000 hours of clinical practice in a number of different specialities. After this initial period of training a physiotherapist is most likely to work in a general hospital within the NHS to gain experience.

Under current law only people who are registered with the Health Professions Council are able to call themselves physiotherapists.

Physiotherapy is a safe, non-invasive therapy that is suitable for all ages. However, it is important to inform your physiotherapist if you experience any pain or problems following your physiotherapy treatment.

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapists
www.csp.org.uk

NHS Direct
www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk