FAQS
Put simply, physiotherapy is the treatment of injury, illness and disability through movement and exercise. Physiotherapists are highly qualified healthcare professionals who are trained to assess, diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions, from sports injuries to osteoarthritis. All of the Chartered Physiotherapists who are employed here at The Physio Lounge are members of the Healthcare Professions Council (HCPC) who regulate all Physiotherapist to ensure the highest quality of care.
Acupuncture is the process of inserting very fine needles into specific areas of the body to assist with pain management and symptom relief. It can be a useful method to control pain for those who have poor reactions to painkillers or those who simply don’t want to take them. We also offer cosmetic acupuncture at select clinics, which can help to stimulate collagen production in the skin and reduce the effects of ageing such as fine lines and wrinkles.
If you have pain or a problem of an unknown origin, it’s usually best to book a full physiotherapy assessment to identify the root cause and decide on the best way to manage it. Even if you feel you have an idea as to what it might be, it’s still best to let us take a look so we’re able to make sure that the treatment is suitable for your individual abilities. Sports massage can be a brilliant treatment to help you prepare or recover from an event, or just to help you feel looser in general. If you’re still unsure which you need then contact us directly and one of our physiotherapists will be able to give you some further advice.
We generally recommend that people wear “gym clothing” for their appointments. Physiotherapy assessments involve plenty of movement and we will often need to visually examine the problem area too. We recommend a t-shirt or vest top, shorts and trainers for most assessments. If you are worried you might feel uncomfortable and would prefer to see a female practitioner, contact us and we will do our best to arrange this.
A physiotherapy initial assessment lasts from 30-60 minutes depending on how our services are accessed. Certain Insurance Providers allocate pre-set times as part of their terms and conditions, but we always offer our self-funding customers upto 60 minutes to ensure there is plenty of time to get to the root of your problem and to provide treatment. We collect information not only about your current condition, but also about your medical and social history, so we can gain a better insight into how to best to treat your issue. If you take any medications, it’s helpful to bring your prescription sheet or a list of what you’re currently taking with you. After we’ve had a chat and built up an idea as to what might be going wrong, we will undertake a thorough physical examination. This is individualised for everybody and is tailored to you depending on many different factors including your pain level at assessment, physical ability and what you are comfortable engaging with. We will then provide an accurate diagnosis and bespoke treatment plan. Treatments always involve exercise as part of physical rehabilitation but can include a wide variety of manual treatments, such as spinal mobilisation/manipulation, instrument assisted soft tissue mobilisation (IASTM), sports massage, acupuncture and much more.
Yes, we offer home visits across a broad area around the Cheshire, Merseyside and Manchester areas. Our initial assessments are an hour long and we need to factor travel expenses into the billing too. We always endeavour to ensure that these costs are kept as low as possible. Home assessments can be particularly handy if you are recovering from surgery, unable to access one of our clinics or struggle with every day mobility. If you are still unsure whether or not this is right for you, contact us to speak to one of our physiotherapists to discuss your needs and how we can help.
This is a tricky question and the answer will typically depend on many different factors including your physical ability, the severity of the issue and your personal goals, to name a few. An average course of physiotherapy tends to last anywhere from six to ten sessions.
We absolutely deal with sports injuries… Our physiotherapists all have extensive backgrounds either in professional sports or in the management of sports-related injuries and we are all keenly involved in sports and fitness ourselves. We are experienced with all levels of sports injuries, from the weekend couch-to-5ker to those competing at the elite professional level.
We work with some of the finest surgeons, radiologists and GPs across the North West and have spent many years forging robust clinical relationships with them. We frequently communicate with other professionals involved in your care to ensure that we are all informed and working together to achieve your goals. In the unlikely event that you do need an onward referral, we will ensure that it is completed swiftly and accurately to avoid any unnecessary delays in getting you the care you need.
Absolutely. Some patients prefer to attend with a chaperone and we are more than happy to accommodate this. Where possible we can also help if you have a preference for a male or female practitioner. All children under the age of thirteen must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
If you are funding the appointment yourself, you do not need to go via your GP and you can self-refer directly to us. However, for certain insurance providers you may require a referral from your GP. If you are unsure as to how to go about this, feel free to contact us and we can help to guide you through the process.
What Our Clients Say
“… I had treatment through my GP which did not work. Craig carried out the Epley Manouevre and it worked in the initial appointment. I now can get through each day without any vertigo. Very impressed… “
“… the experience & knowledge the therapists possess is excellent & fascinating…”
“… Craig & Mark have shown great knowledge and ingenuity in treating me. I’ve made massive progress so far thanks to them. It’s hard work but they are great motivators. I definitely recommend them. The results speak for themselves! ”
“Fully recommend these guys – they really know their stuff and are well worth the money. Creating an exercise/fitness scheme designed just for you and your pain/issue you really feel like you’ve been listened to.”