Physiotherapy

Physiotherapists use movement, exercise and manual therapy to help people affected by illness or injury to improve their quality of life. Physiotherapy will often include both hands-on treatment and educational elements, arming you with the advice you need to take the benefits into your own life.

Physiotherapy can help you to improve your strength and physical capabilities. If you have been injured or ill, or had surgery, it can support you to recover as well and as safely as possible. If you are living with a disability or chronic illness, physiotherapy can help you to adapt to your circumstances, overcome difficulties and find new ways to live well. For many people, physiotherapy allows them to remain independent for as long as possible.

Physiotherapy takes a holistic approach to health, meaning that our physiotherapists will consider everything from your lifestyle to your mental health when developing a treatment plan. They will involve you closely, and every physiotherapy programme will be completely tailored to the individual.

Physiotherapy can support you at any stage of your life. It helps people to understand their body and strengthen their physical abilities, and it is most commonly used in cases of illness, injury or disability. However, as physiotherapy can help you to prevent injuries or to reach peak fitness for the first time, many people visit a physiotherapist proactively - in particular athletes.

Our physiotherapists can support you with conditions and problems with your:

Musculoskeletal system

This means your bones, joints and soft tissues. Physiotherapy can help all manner of musculoskeletal complaints including back pain, neck pain or any other joint pain, as well as sports injuries, like muscle or ligament sprains and strains. It can also be effective for managing long term conditions like chronic pain and rheumatoid arthritis.

Brain and nervous system

You might have a variety of types of physiotherapy to help you with a condition that affects your neurological health. We commonly see patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) or Parkinson's disease, or who have suffered a stroke.

Heart and circulation

Physiotherapy can protect or restore your cardiovascular health, for example if you are recovering from having a heart attack.

Lungs and breathing

People with conditions such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) or cystic fibrosis can benefit from respiratory physiotherapy.

Physiotherapy frequently consists of three main approaches:

• Education and advice
• Movement and exercise
• Manual therapy (where the physiotherapist uses their hands to treat an area of your body)

Some of the types of physiotherapy treatment we offer most commonly include:

Tailored exercise programmes

Our physiotherapists will work with you to develop a custom programme of exercises to support your physical health. These might target:

• Strength
• Range of movement
• Core stability
• Balance

Common reasons that people have this type of physiotherapy are chronic pain such as joint pain, and recovery after an accident or injury.

Post-surgical rehabilitation

It is very common to see a physiotherapist after you have surgery, especially joint replacement or ligament reconstruction surgery. Physiotherapy has been shown to speed up recovery times and improve outcomes.

Sports injury recovery

As with post-surgical recovery, physiotherapy can help you to recover from a sports injury faster and in many cases improves your chances of full recovery. Our physiotherapists will support you right from the start and help you safely return to the sport you love.

Pelvic floor physiotherapy

This is most commonly used to treat women, though some men will suffer from pelvic floor issues too. It is commonly used to treat urinary incontinence, which can be caused by a number of conditions.

Vestibular rehabilitation

If you are suffering from dizziness, vertigo, nausea or loss of balance, then you might benefit from vestibular rehabilitation treatment. The treatment consists of exercises designed to retrain the balance system. The goal is to gradually reduce the severity of your symptoms.

Respiratory physiotherapy

Respiratory physiotherapy relates to the assessment and treatment of people with disorders of the respiratory system. This includes conditions affecting the lungs such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis. It can be used at all stages of disease, from early diagnosis through to chronic illness. Physiotherapy is focused on maximising physical function and helping you manage symptoms.

Neurological rehabilitation

Neurological rehabilitation helps people manage the effects of a neurological condition, such as a stroke or Parkinson's disease. In some cases, rehabilitation can help people fully recover from their condition. In other cases, rehabilitation helps people regain life skills, increase their strength and mobility, and adopt methods and techniques to manage their condition and live happily and independently.

Bracing

Bracing is where a device is fitted to a part of the body, usually a joint such as the knee, to provide support, relieve pressure and improve stability. This can also help to reduce pain.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that involves inserting very fine needles into the skin and underlying tissues, or into certain trigger points (acupuncture points) in the body. It works by encouraging the body to release natural pain-killing substances (endorphins), thereby easing your symptoms of pain and discomfort.

Steroid injection therapy

Steroid injection therapy is the injection of corticosteroid medications into painful joints or soft tissues to reduce pain and inflammation in the area.

The cost of physiotherapy starts from £64 for your first appointment.* This is based on an initial 45-minute appointment and includes a full assessment and treatment plan.

The cost of follow-up appointments starts from £50.*

The cost of your total physiotherapy treatment will depend on various factors such as your condition, how many sessions you need and what type of treatment you are recommended. Your therapist will discuss this with you as part of your treatment planning.

You do not need a GP referral to access physiotherapy services.

*This is a guide price and may vary. You'll be told the exact cost before you book.

You don't need a GP referral to book an initial consultation with one of our chartered physiotherapists. Just give us a call and one of our friendly advisors will help you to find an appointment at a time and place that suits you.

Our team of experienced physiotherapists are trained to successfully manage a range of conditions. However, there are some services that require more specialist training to provide them. So, if you are interested in a specific type of physiotherapy, do let our team know, in case you need to be seen by a specially trained physiotherapist.

When you choose to go private with Circle Health Group, you can expect:

• Flexible appointment times and locations to fit your routine
• Freedom to choose your hospital and physiotherapist
• Specialist physiotherapy equipment and imaging facilities at your fingertips
• Specialist advice and exercises to follow in sessions and at home
• Tailored services (your physiotherapist will build your programme around your needs)
• Fast access to imaging and diagnostics when needed
• Seamless onwards referral to other hospital services should your physio feel you need them, including referral to consultants

If you would like to learn more about how physiotherapy could benefit you, call a member of our team directly.

Content reviewed by Circle physiotherapy team in September 2023. Next review due September 2026.

1. Physiotherapy, NHS
2. Types of physiotherapy treatment, Gen Physio
3. Physiotherapy, Physio.co.uk
4. What is physiotherapy, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy