About Physiotherapy & Sports Therapy
It can also help to reduce your risk of injury or illness in the future. It takes a holistic approach that involves the patient directly in their own care.
Physiotherapy & Sports Therapy can be helpful for people of all ages with a wide range of abilities, and health conditions, including the following:
- Bones, Joints & Soft tissue: such as back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain and sports injuries.
- Brain & Nervous System: Such as movement problems resulting from a stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS) or Parkinson’s Disease.
- Heart & Circulation: Such as rehabilitation after a heart attack.
- Lungs & Breathing: Such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and Cystic Fibrosis (CF).
Physiotherapists consider the body as a whole, rather than just focusing on the individual aspects of an injury or illness.
Tailored patient treatment plans
Here at Well Life our therapists offer a range of treatment approaches and tailor patient treatment plans to best suit them and their rehabilitation goals.
Some of our main treatment approaches include:
Advice & Education
Therapists can provide patients with general advise about things that can affect your daily life, such as posture, correct manual handling techniques and things to help prevent further injuries.
Movement, tailored exercises & physical activity advice
Our therapists can recommend specific exercises that help to improve flexibility, strength and overall well being of the individual.
Manual Therapy
This is the use of hands on therapy in order to address key areas of concern such as pain, limited range of movement and stiffness
This technique can be conducted on both the joints and the soft tissues and can include:
- Joint mobilisation – passive movement within an individuals range of motion
- Joint manipulation – controlled, high-velocity, low-amplitudes propulsions applied to specific joints
- Massage – the use of particular techniques in order to address muscle tension and improve blood flow. More on this below
This will/may not be a treatment option if you have one of the following:
- Bone/joint issues – fractures, dislocations, tumors, severe osteoporosis, osteomyelitis, metastases and inflammatory arthritis
- Neurological conditions – spinal cord compression, nerve root compression, myelopathy and spinal stenosis
- Vascular conditions – aneurysms, vertebral artery insufficiency and severe coagulation deficiencies
- Inflammatory conditions – severe rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, polymyalgia rheumatica
- Hypermobility
- Undiagnosed pain
- Infections
- Recent trauma – fractures/dislocations
- Malignancy
Taping
This is the application of specific tape (athletic or medical) on the body for a variety of reasons including injury prevention, support and pain relief
This will/may not be a treatment option if you have one of the following: Open wounds, Infections, Severe allergies, DVT, Malignancy, Fever, Pregnancy – particularly first trimester, Fragile skin, Blood thinners/medications, Scars that are still healing.
Electrotherapy
Also known as TENS – Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
This is a portable, battery powered device which uses mild electrical stimulation to aid with pain relief. This will stimulate the nerves around the injury, blocking pain signals from reaching the brain and, in some cases, release endorphins. This device is typically used for a wide variety of pain including chronic, acute, menstrual, and muscle soreness.
This will/may not be a treatment option if you have one of the following:
- Pacemakers
- Are pregnant – In some cases may be used to help with labour pain but must be discussed with healthcare professional
- Epilepsy – must be used with caution and not used around the head and neck
- Broken, fragile, irritated or infected skin
- Areas of numbness