Physiotherapy services in Winchester

Agilaflex is Winchester’s premier centre for professional physiotherapy services. Our chartered physiotherapists are qualified specialists in the assessment and treatment of musculoskeletal pain and disorders, and we pride ourselves on delivering instant access to physiotherapy, while working to the highest levels of clinical excellence and expertise.

Whether your problem is a sprained joint, back or neck pain or another associated condition, our physiotherapists can help you or guide you to an appropriate course of care with one of our other practitioners.

Physiotherapy is particularly effective in the management of joint conditions resulting from overuse, repetitive strain or activity-based injuries. Treatment will often involve addressing altered movement patterns, manual techniques and exercise treatments, together with guidance to help you when exercising and going about daily activities.

Before being recommended a course of treatment at Agilaflex, you will receive a comprehensive physical examination from one of our healthcare professionals to establish the root cause of your pain. This will take into account your work situation, social environment, level of physical activity and general lifestyle. See our approach.

Qualifications

All Agilaflex physiotherapists are registered with the UK statutory regulatory body – The Health Professions Council. Only professionals suitably qualified and registered with this body may use the title ‘physiotherapist’. In addition, our physiotherapists are registered with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists – the educational and industry body representing the profession. This body binds all of its members, including our clinicians, to their rules of professional conduct.

Prior to joining Agilaflex, our physiotherapists have significant professional experience in the areas of back, neck and joint conditions, as well as a recognised degree in physiotherapy and further education in manual therapy and musculoskeletal-based cases.

Is physiotherapy effective?

Physiotherapy is shown to be effective in the treatment of a range of injuries. It is especially useful for sufferers of back, neck and joint pain, and every year helps thousands of people around the world recover from their injuries and return to full mobility. Physiotherapy is very popular within the NHS and is frequently referred to by GPs and hospital doctors and surgeons.

What are the risks?

While there are no significant risks resulting from physiotherapy, there are, on rare occasions, risks associated with exercise, such as sudden cardiac death or heart attack. Risks associated with neck manipulation and stroke generally stem from untrained professionals performing this technique.

However, since exercise is proven to reduce overall risk, your lifetime risk if you take regular exercise is greatly reduced. And since coronary artery disease remains the main cause of premature death in both men and women, it would indicate that exercise is a major contributor to a long and active life.

Physiotherapists are qualified to advise you with appropriate exercise programmes to aid in your recovery, and as such are unlikely to advise you to engage in any exercise that may result in a risk to your health.

Q: What can I expect on my first visit?

A: At your initial assessment your clinician will conduct a thorough physical examination and gain a confidential understanding of your full medical history in order to make a diagnosis. This allows us to assess your state of health and any possible causes of your back, neck or joint pain. This examination may be complemented with an on-site X-ray examination, if deemed necessary.

To determine your condition, our clinicians are trained to examine areas of the body using a highly-developed technique known as palpation, which helps them identify any areas of weakness or strain. Before your examination, you will usually be asked to remove some clothing around the affected area of the body.

Your clinician will then discuss with you the most appropriate treatment plan for your needs, together with an estimate of the number of sessions required to treat your condition successfully. Unless otherwise requested by the patient, this may often involve recommendations for one or more modes of treatment, or possibly a combination of all three – chiropractic, osteopathy and physiotherapy.

If they believe that your condition is unlikely to respond to treatment, your clinician will refer you to an appropriate source of professional help. All Agilaflex clinicians are skilled in diagnosis and trained to identify when a patient needs to be referred to a relevant specialist.

Q: What can I expect when I receive treatment?

A: After your assessment we will provide you with a diagnosis of you condition, together with a personal plan which outlines the number of sessions that are likely to be required and the desired outcome. Your treatment will be monitored and, if necessary, adjusted to take into account changes in your condition. We keep you fully informed of progress at every stage.

Q: Will the assessment or treatment hurt?

A: Most of our treatments are relatively pain free. However, it may be possible that you experience some soreness during or after your session, as a thorough assessment can occasionally aggravate existing symptoms. We aim to ensure that you are mobile and pain-free again in the shortest time possible, while also treating the underlying cause of your injury to prevent recurrence. Our aim is to help you achieve your goals as quickly as possible, and not to keep you coming back in to see us – although you are always welcome!

Q: How many treatments will I need?

A: Every patient is an individual. Therefore we do not prescribe a set number of treatments for any condition. Following your initial assessment, your clinician will discuss with you the anticipated number of treatments. You will be reassessed on each visit and if progress is slow, or if there is no apparent improvement, then your treatment will be modified as appropriate, or you will be referred to a relevant specialist.

Q: How long will the assessment and treatments last?

A: Your initial assessment will last 60 minutes and takes the form of a thorough physical examination and, if considered appropriate, will include a treatment. Further follow-on consultations will typically take between 20 and 30 minutes, and occasionally longer where necessary.

Q: What if I need to see a specialist?

A: If they feel it is appropriate for you to see a specialist, your clinician will discuss it with you and review the possible benefits of a specialist opinion. Please note that we are able to complete any X-rays that may be required in-house.

Q: Will I have to have an X-ray?

A: Your clinician will only recommend an X-ray if there is a valid clinical reason for doing so. As with all health professionals, clinicians at Agilaflex must comply with the legislation that governs the use of X-rays: Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000.

Q: Is there a waiting list for treatment?

A: No. We are able to make same day, evening and Saturday appointments.

Q: Do I need to be referred for treatment by a doctor?

A: No. You may see us without a doctor’s referral. However, with your consent, we can keep in contact with your GP to enable them to maintain an accurate record of your medical care. In the same way as consultants, we work closely with GPs, as it is invariably of benefit to our patients.

Q: What should I wear?

A: We recommend that you dress in loose fitting, comfortable clothes. Your clinician will of course need to see the affected area of your body, and gowns are provided if it becomes necessary for you to remove any items of clothing.

Q: Do you continuously develop your techniques?

A: Yes. We pride ourselves on maintaining the highest standards of clinical practice.

Our clinicians undergo constant clinical supervision and training for both patient management and treatment techniques, as well as keeping up to date with all current methodologies through attending postgraduate training courses. We are committed to driving forward the standard of non-surgical back, neck and joint care, and to leading the field in its private provision while maintaining the highest standard of care and evidence-based practice.

You can be confident that the treatment you receive at Agilaflex will be of the highest standard. All Agilaflex practitioners are fully qualified and registered with the statutory regulatory bodies in the UK - the General Chiropractic Council, the General Osteopathic Council and the Health Professions Council, as well as the various industry bodies.

Q: What are your payment options?

A: Payment is required in full at the time of treatment. We accept payment by debit card, credit card, cash or cheque.

Q: I have private medical insurance - am I covered with you?

A: Yes. The cost of your treatment at Agilaflex is refundable by all major health insurers. You will be issued with an invoice for your insurance company after each treatment. We recommend that you contact your insurance company before beginning your treatment and seek answers to the following questions:

• Is a medical referral necessary?
• Are you liable to pay an excess?
• Is there any restriction on the number of treatments you are allowed?
• Is there is any limit on the amount you are able to claim?

Q: What is Physiotherapy?

A: Physiotherapy deals with the assessment and treatment of conditions causing pain and disability including sports injuries and problems arising from faulty postural habits and physical overuse.

After a detailed assessment, your Agilaflex physiotherapist will give you a clear explanation of your problem, how it may be treated and how long it will take. Prior to commencement, the physiotherapist will agree with you the aims of your treatment and begin working on the problem area. This typically includes a combination of gentle manual treatment, in the form of manipulation and soft tissue techniques, as well as guidance and advice on controlled exercises to address postural problems such as stiff joints and tight muscles and any underlying conditions. This dual approach helps us deal with the causes of your problem and prevents it from reoccurring.

Q: How do I know if my physiotherapist is fully qualified?

A: All chartered physiotherapists have received extensive training and will have completed the required academic and clinical examinations to enable them to practice. They will be members of the Health Professions Council (HPC), which demonstrates that they are state registered, and their names will be suffixed by the letters MCSP.

At Agilaflex we require our physiotherapists to have completed further education and professional development in musculoskeletal care.

Q: What exactly does a chartered physiotherapist do?

A: Using a variety of techniques, a chartered physiotherapist treats physical problems resulting from injury and disease by correcting and improving the body’s own mechanism, without the use of drugs, surgery or medication including:

• Pain relief
• Restoration and improvement of joint mobility
• Prevention and treatment of sports injuries
• Improved physical co-ordination

Q: What sort of treatments do chartered physiotherapists offer?

A: Physiotherapists use a wide range of techniques including manipulation, acupuncture, mobilisation and massage to relieve pain, restore function and aid healing, as well as offering guidance on posture and exercises. Manual treatment is frequently complemented by the use of electronic equipment.

Health Professions Council
http://www.hpc-uk.org

Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
http://www.csp.org.uk

NHS
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/physiotherapy/Pages/Introduction.aspx

International Society of Clinical Rehabilitation Specialists
http://www.clinicalrehabspecialists.com

Agilaflex is committed to providing the highest achievable standard of care in the field of chiropractic, osteopathy and physiotherapy. This we aim to do in a clear, ethical and open way with all of our patients. However, if following treatment you have any questions or concerns regarding your treatment then please contact the customer care team in confidence, at either [email protected] or in writing to First Floor, 107 High Street, Winchester SO23 9AH, referencing our feedback & complaints procedure.