Physiotherapy - Coming soon
From November 2024 Unity Health Network Ltd will be offering a range of Physiotherapy services throughout the UK.
Waiting lists for NHS physiotherapy can be long and some people choose to have private treatment instead. If you see a physiotherapist privately, you'll have to pay for treatment.You can usually approach a private physiotherapist directly without a referral from a doctor.
Available treatments include - Physical therapy modalities
- Massage
- Electrotherapy
- Extracorporeal shockwave therapy
- Manual therapy
- Physical medicine and rehabilitation
- Soft tissue techniques
- Musculoskeletal physiotherapy
- Hydrotherapy
- Electrical muscle stimulation
- Joint mobilization
Physiotherapy - Techniques
Movement and exercise
Physiotherapists usually recommend movement and exercise to help improve your mobility and function. This may include:
- exercises designed to improve movement and strength in a specific part of the body – these usually need to be repeated regularly for a set length of time
- activities that involve moving your whole body, such as walking or swimming – these can help if you're recovering from an operation or injury that affects your mobility
- exercises carried out in warm, shallow water (hydrotherapy or aquatic therapy) – the water can help relax and support the muscles and joints, while providing resistance to help you gradually get stronger
- advice and exercises to help you increase or maintain your physical activity – advice will be given on the importance of keeping active, and how to do this in a safe, effective way
- advice on using mobility aids – such as crutches or a walking stick to help you move around
Your physiotherapist may also recommend exercises that you can continue doing to help you manage pain in the long term or reduce your risk of injuring yourself again.
Manual therapy
Manual therapy is a technique where a physiotherapist uses their hands to manipulate, mobilise and massage the body tissues.
This can help:
- relieve pain and stiffness
- improve blood circulation
- help fluid drain more efficiently from parts of the body
- improve the movement of different parts of the body
- promote relaxation
Manual therapy can be used to treat specific problems, such as back pain, but may also be useful for a range of conditions that don't affect the bones, joints or muscles.
For example, massage may improve quality of life for some people with serious or long-term conditions by reducing levels of anxiety and improving sleep quality. Manual techniques are also used to help certain lung conditions.
