Physiotherapy

Lower back pain that comes back every time you sit for longer. A shoulder that has not been the same since a fall while skiing. A neck that stiffens up to the back of the head after a day at the screen. Physiotherapy deals with problems like these in the musculoskeletal system, whether they result from an injury, overload or an operation.

We treat pain in the spine and joints, conditions after injuries to muscles, tendons and ligaments, recovery after surgery, and problems that stem from posture and the way you work. The physiotherapist does not make a diagnosis, but works on function: mobility, strength, movement control and the load the body can tolerate.

If the cause of the problem has not yet been explained, or if the pain suddenly gets much worse, changes in character, or comes with tingling, loss of strength and fever, talk to a doctor first.

The first session is largely a conversation and an assessment. The physiotherapist asks about the course of your problems, what makes them worse and what eases them, and about your work and sports habits, then assesses your mobility, strength and the way you move. From this a treatment plan is made.

Therapies tailored to the findings follow: therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, muscle relaxation techniques and trigger point treatment, and at the therapist's discretion also instrument-based forms of therapy. Part of the treatment is exercises you do at home, because between visits it is home exercise that does most of the work.

We adjust the plan as we go. If your response differs from what was expected, the therapist changes the approach or refers you back to the doctor for further tests.

After joint surgery or a major injury, the way back is gradual. First comes calming the swelling and pain and restoring range of movement, only then strength and load, and finally movement that is specific to your sport or your work.

If your surgeon or specialist has prescribed a rehabilitation protocol with load restrictions, bring it with you. The physiotherapist follows these instructions and fits the treatment within them.

How many sessions will be needed depends on the nature of the injury, the procedure and your response. After the first assessment the therapist explains what it is reasonable to expect over the following weeks, and revises the estimate as you go.

Once treatment is finished, you can continue exercising at the kinesiology clinic, where a kinesiologist prepares a programme to maintain and build on what you have achieved. If it becomes clear during treatment that a doctor needs to reassess you, the orthopaedic clinic is available at the centre.

Physiotherapy with us is self-pay, so you do not need a referral and can book yourself. Bring specialist reports, imaging reports and any operation notes with you.

Come to your session in comfortable clothes that allow movement and access to the area being treated. For the legs, shorts are suitable; for the shoulder and neck, a collarless top.