Expectations of your local physiotherapist appointment
Whether you have been referred to a local physiotherapist by your doctor or you have been advised to book an appointment, having physiotherapy can be a daunting thing if you have never had it before. Many patients worry that the pain will worsen, that it will be expensive, and that they will be seeing a local physiotherapist for the rest of their lives with no improvements! Advantage Physio aims to get rid of some of those worries by telling you what you can expect from your first physio appointment with a member of our team.
During your initial consultation, your physiotherapist will conduct a thorough and in-depth assessment to understand your pain symptoms and how this effect you. You will discuss things including:
- Health history and medications
- Current symptoms and lifestyle choices
You will have a physical examination completed by your physio to assess your overall health and understand any potential underlying medical conditions. Your initial consultation will last between 30 mins. Once we have worked out a diagnosis, your local physiotherapist will want to get straight to work on your symptoms.
For your physio appointment, we would like you to be able to get comfortable for the duration of your stay. For this reason, we recommend wearing loose clothing that you will be able to remove if necessary. This may be a vest top underneath a jumper or hoodie and a pair of shorts underneath a pair of jogging bottoms. For women, you may also wish to wear a sports bra to avoid the digging of the underwire; however, this is your choice. Lastly, we recommend trainers or shoes that are easy to slip on and off, so you don’t have to worry about doing up laces or struggling into shoes straight after your appointment.
What do you need to know about Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia becomes aggravated. This usually happens because of overuse of the tissues, such as running too many miles per week, wearing high heels, walking barefoot, standing for long periods of time, sitting cross-legged, or being overweight. The plantar fascia is located just under the skin of the sole of your foot. When it becomes irritated, it pulls up into your heel bone and creates extra stress on the bones and joints of your foot. If you are experiencing pain in your heel, you probably have plantar fasciitis.
If you are living with plantar fasciitis, this can often be debilitating and cause mental and emotional stress. Being able to alleviate the pain by working with a professional can often give you a new lease on life and improve your mental and physical health. With physiotherapy input, many plantar fasciitis sufferers are on the road to recovery in just a couple of months. A local physiotherapist will work with you to identify trigger points and treat the area using stretches, massage, taping, acupuncture, footwear advice and ice, and they will help you to modify your lifestyle to remove or reduce any activities or exercises that are causing a flare-up of your pain.
Experiencing pain after your local physiotherapist visit
It is common to fear pain when you have been referred to a local physiotherapist. Many of us hear stories or watch videos on social media of patients lying on a bed to be twisted and turned until they click! It is important to note that many of these manipulation videos are massively enhanced using pinpoint microphones to pick up clicks and crunches. In reality, the movement and sound are not as pronounced! If you have been referred to a physiotherapy clinic to support your pain management, the last thing you will want is to make that pain any worse.
It’s essential that you communicate with your local physiotherapist throughout your treatment plan, including letting them know of any new symptoms, increased discomfort and soreness or swelling of the affected area. Some patients do not communicate with their physiotherapist due to embarrassment or thinking that their pain level is average. This can cause concerns further down the line and result in extended treatment is necessary to resolve the issue.
During your treatment, your local physiotherapist will work on your pain points and the source of your pain. They may look for weak or stiff areas that could either be causing the pain or adding stress to the places that hurt. Alongside your physiotherapy appointments, you may also be given a set of exercises to do at home, which you will be expected to complete in between your physio appointments. During your physiotherapy course, you will complete a mixture of exercises, including:
- Low-impact aerobic training
- Strengthening exercises
- Pain relief exercises
Using various techniques, your therapist will work in a bespoke way to support you and your rehabilitation. Heat and ice packs, massage, manipulation and electrical nerve stimulation may also factor in your physiotherapy appointment.
This may also interest you:
What to expect from your physio appointment at Advantage Physio?
Three plantar fasciitis treatments you should know
Frequently Asked Questions | Physiotherapist | Advantage Physiotherapy
Merry Christmas from the Advantage Physio team!
Throughout 2022, Advantage Physiotherapy has supported both referred and private patients with their injury and illness rehabilitation journeys. As your local physiotherapist, we have enjoyed working with a huge variety of clients, seeing their progress and determination to get back to some form of normality within their lives. We are all looking forward to the new challenges that 2023 will bring, but until that time, the Advantage team would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy new year!