What we do
You and your therapist will work closely together to explore your clinical picture and how this is affecting your life. It is important for us to ask questions so we have an accurate and up-to-date understanding of your needs. We work with consultants to offer physiotherapy input to help manage the problems you have been referred for.
Assessment
During your initial consultation, your physiotherapist will take a detailed history and listen to your goals. This will be followed by a physical assessment, which may include hands-on testing of structures, measures of strength or flexibility, or observing your performance of tasks or movements. This helps your therapist develop a working diagnosis, and together you will create an individualised treatment plan to help you achieve your goals.
Treatment
You may be asked to attend follow-up appointments. Whether these are needed, and how often they take place, will be different for everyone. This decision is made between you and your therapist based on your overall presentation, your preferences, what we can offer, your referral and the best treatment strategies. Common strategies include:
Education
Your therapist will work with you to help you understand your condition and the potential factors that have contributed to it. This can also help guide expectations, support planning and answer any questions you may have.
Advice
We provide advice and recommendations on various topics to help manage your condition. This can include strategies to manage pain and optimise your rehabilitation, the appropriate adjustment and progression of activities and management of flare-ups.
Signposting
There may be aspects of your current injury or overall health that would benefit from support that is not offered in our department. In these cases, your therapist can signpost you to other services within the NHS, via your GP or to local services in the community.
Manual therapies
For certain problems, we may use hands-on techniques such as soft tissue therapy, joint mobilisations and neural glides. This can help improve movement and function or reduce pain. This will be followed by advice, self-management techniques or exercises to maximise the therapeutic effects.
Gait aids
You may benefit from a gait aid, such as crutches or a walking stick, often temporarily, as a result of injury, surgery or deteriorating mobility. Our team can fit and provide walking sticks and crutches, as well as offer advice on how to use them. We do not provide orthopaedic devices such as walking boots, braces or slings.
Rehabilitation programmes
This is usually the most important part of recovery. Your therapist will work with you to develop an individualised programme targeted towards your goals. Exercises are given to address weak muscles, poor control or stiff joints, and are prescribed for you to complete in your own time. It is important to be consistent, as the benefits often take time to notice.
Exercise classes
Your therapist can refer you to small classes that take place in the therapies gym in the department, using either circuit-based or individualised exercise programmes. In most cases, this is supplemental to a rehabilitation programme that you continue to complete at home, guided by your primary therapist. The classes aim to help address specific limitations or problems, with a view to empowering you in the ongoing management of your condition and promoting a healthy lifestyle.
The department no longer has a hydrotherapy pool.
Further information
As we aim to support your independence and confidence, please see the pages in the other sections, which we hope you will find helpful.