Physiotherapy can help with a wide range of muscle and joint problems as well as well as helping restore movement and function due to illness or disability.”
When is Physiotherapy used?
Physiotherapy can be helpful for people of all ages with a wide range of health conditions, including problems affecting the:
- bones, joints and soft tissue – such as back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain and sports injuries
- brain or nervous system – such as movement problems resulting from a stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS) or Parkinson’s disease
- lungs and breathing – such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis
Physiotherapy can improve your physical activity while helping you to prevent further injuries.
Physiotherapists
Physiotherapy is provided by specially-trained and regulated practitioners called physiotherapists.
Physiotherapists often work as part of a multi-disciplinary team in various areas of medicine and settings, including:
- hospitals
- community health centres or clinics
- some GP surgeries
- some sports teams, clubs, charities and workplaces
What physiotherapists do
Physiotherapists consider the body as a whole, rather than just focusing on the individual aspects of an injury or illness.
Some of the main approaches used by physiotherapists include:
- education and advice – physiotherapists can give general advice about things that can affect your daily lives, such as posture and correct lifting or carrying techniques to help prevent injuries
- movement, tailored exercise and physical activity advice – exercises may be recommended to improve your general health and mobility, and to strengthen specific parts of your body
- manual therapy – where the physiotherapist uses their hands to help relieve pain and stiffness, and to encourage better movement of the body
Seeing a Physiotherapist
You don’t need to see a GP for a referral and seeing a physio for joint and muscle problems directly is a good idea. If the physio has any concerns regarding your condition , they will ask you to see your GP.
You can self-refer to NHS physiotherapy. The current waiting time varies between 6 and 10 weeks.
ARC Physio
Many patients are happy to see a physio on a private, fee paying basis as the waiting time is very much less (usually within 7 days). For our patient’s convenience, private physio is available here in the surgery from ARC physio services – to find our more about ARC please visit their website: www.arcphysio.co.uk
(Please note the GPs have no commercial links with ARC services- this service is offered purely for patient convenience as it is based in the surgery).
GetUBetter
GetUBetter is a self-management app to aid recovery from your musculoskeletal condition problem.
The app will guide you day-by-day through a sequence of exercises and tips to help you get better.
To get started, go to: app.getubetter.com/request-access, select a condition, enter your email address and click send.
The Gloucestershire MSK app (powered by getUBetter) is provided free of charge by Gloucestershire CCG for patients registered at Churchdown Surgery. It can be accessed on a Smartphone or on the Web and guides you day-by-day through a sequence of exercises and tips to help you get better from a range of new or recurrent musculoskeletal conditions:
- Lower back pain
- Back and leg pain
- Neck Pain
- Shoulder Pain
- Ankle Pain
- Knee Pain
- Soft tissue lower limb pain
- Hip Pain
You will be referred to the app by one of our GPs or Physio, or you can self-register by clicking on the App image or visiting www.app.getubetter.com/request-access.
Please use an email address that is unique to you and select the condition you need help to manage.
You will then be sent an email with all the information you need to get started.
You can download the Gloucestershire MSK App to your Smartphone for easiest access or use the Webapp.
If you develop another condition, select your new condition from within the app and it will be added to your account.
The app will also connect you to your local treatment, healthcare providers or support services, if needed, such as Physiotherapy.