Introduction

Physiotherapy is a health care profession concerned with the assessment, maintenance and restoration of function and performance of the human body.

The Physiotherapists at Midlothian Physiotherapy LLP have a minimum of  15 years of clinical experience in a range of settings ranging from paediatrics at the Sick Kids in Edinburgh, through musculoskeletal outpatients at Spire Murrayfield to professional football. This broad experience gained in a variety of clinical settings in both the NHS and the private sector ensures that the clinicians at Midlothian Physiotherapy LLP have a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the assessment, treatment and overall management of musculoskeletal problems. We are all members of the CSP or Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and we  are all registered with the HCPC or Health and Care Professions Council.

Therefore that if you come to Midlothian Physiotherapy LLP you can rely on being seen by an expert clinician who adheres to the highest professional standards, who has a broad base of clinical experience in a wide range of clinical settings, who has enough time to listen to your concerns and who will see you at a time which is convenient for you.

How do we treat you ?

• Assessing and identifying the problem area.
• Identifying the causes and predisposing factors if possible.
• Providing rehabilitation following injuries.
• Providing rehabilitation and exercise before and after surgery.
• Providing advice on exercise programmes and special equipment.
• Providing advice with regard to lifestyle and ergonomics. This could include DSE assessments or workplace assessments if appropriate.

What does it cost?

We charge £50 for an initial assessment which will normally last for 45 – 60 minutes and then £40 for follow up appointments which will last up to 30 minutes. We have a discounted rate for Seniors(Over 65 years of age) of £40 for the initial assessment and £40 for any follow up appointments. We charge children of 16 years of age and under a flat rate of £35.

Patients under the age of 18

Patients under the age of 18 MUST be accompanied by a parent or guardian, it must be stressed that we cannot treat or assess unaccompanied patients under the age of 18 years of age.

What Can Physiotherapy Help With?

Our Physiotherapists are specialists in dealing with Musculoskeletal disorders.  These are any problems which involve bones, muscles, joints, nerves and soft tissues such as tendons and ligaments.

All physiotherapists at Midlothian Physiotherapy LLP are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP). We deal with many different conditions such as;

• Back Pain
• Neck Pain
• Sports Injuries
• Shoulder pain
• Knee pain
• Tendon ruptures
• Tendon tendinitis/Tendinopathy
• Traction apophysitis or growing pains in children
• Postural Problems
• Joint pain
• Ligament Sprains
• Muscle Strains/Tears
• Occupational Injuries
• Arthritis(Adults and Children)
• Ante and Post Natal problems

Preparing For your Treatment

If you are suffering from a Musculoskeletal disorder it would be appropriate for you to see us. If you have any doubts as to your suitability please feel free to  contact us to discuss your concerns. If we don’t think that physiotherapy is appropriate for you we will suggest a suitable alternative such as seeing your GP.

If you do come and see us and your physiotherapist is concerned that there may a more serious pathology present or that you may have a more significant injury. They would discuss their findings and reasoning with you and then assist you in seeking appropriate help. This may consist of writing to your GP, or if they were concerned that you had sustained serious injury writing a letter to A&E. All of our staff have extensive experience working with acute injuries, including working in A&E and professional football. Therefore we are all too aware of the potential situations or scenarios, in which someone could present to our clinic with an injury or indeed underlying medical problem which requires a different professional’s intervention. Or at least requires more serious injury or illnesses to be ruled out. For example having an injury X-rayed to rule out the risk of fracture.

If you would like to be seen by a physiotherapist of a specific gender then please mention this at the time that you book your initial appointment so that we can make appropriate arrangements. If you would like to be accompanied by a chaperone then please feel free to bring someone with you. We have plenty of space in our treatment room for you to be accompanied.

What You Should Bring

If your problem affects your low back or legs then it would be helpful if you bring a pair of shorts and, for women, if the problem affects your upper back or shoulders then wearing a vest top would allow the physiotherapist to clearly assess the affected area.

 

About Your Initial Assessment

When you arrive at the clinic your physiotherapist may ask you to fill in a questionnaire about your problem area.  They will then take you to one of the treatment rooms and carry out the subjective assessment. The aim of this is to find out relevant information regarding your general health, any medication you are taking and your level of physical activity (including what you would like to be able to do, as opposed to what you can do).

They would then carefully ask questions to find out the origin, history, location, nature and severity of your pain or discomfort. For example was there a sudden onset of symptoms following a specific injury or was there a gradual onset of symptoms for no apparent reason. Where is the pain or other symptoms, how bad are they and are they there all the time or do they come and go.

Additionally they would ask questions to find out the effect your symptoms are having on your day to day life. For example are the symptoms you are experiencing affecting your ability to work or to participate in sporting activities or looking after family members. Once this subjective assessment or ‘history’ has been taken, you will then be asked if the affected area can be examined.

The objective examination involves the physiotherapist performing a series of specific tests to assess movement, strength and pain to investigate the cause of your symptoms. They would normally assess your overall posture, check the range of movement of various joints, muscles and other soft tissue, check muscle power, muscle endurance and muscle control. They will sometimes also palpate specific structures to determine if, and what extent these structures are contributing to your problem.

Your Treatment

The physiotherapist will then discuss and plan a proposed treatment plan in partnership with you.  This would be tailored specifically for you, your requirements and any constraints that you may be operating under. It is important to realise that appropriate management of musculoskeletal pain is not a one size fits all approach. The optimal treatment approach varies significantly from person to person. Please see this page for more details.

However to summarise your treatment may include:

Manual therapy .

Taping and Strapping

Acupuncture

Patient specific rehabilitation

It is important to realise that almost always what we do to you i.e. Manual therapy, Acupuncture, Taping etc is far less important to a successful outcome, than your consistent following of a  properly planned, graded, progressive rehabilitation programme.

How Many Appointments Will You Need?

This will depend on the nature of your problem and/or your response to physiotherapy management.  For some people only one appointment is appropriate with advice regarding home exercises and self management strategies.  For others subsequent follow up appointments will be arranged for a suitable time in the future to progress your management.

Is Physiotherapy Safe/Appropriate For You?

If after the detailed initial assessment we feel that physiotherapy is not appropriate or safe for you then we will discuss with you the best course of action. This may involve prompt communication with your GP or other health professionals where necessary to direct future care.

Do I need a referral from a doctor to attend Midlothian Physiotherapy LLP?

No, attending Midlothian Physiotherapy LLP can be done on a self referral basis although we do have GP’s and consultants who refer to us. If you have private health insurance then you may need to be referred by your GP. As the policy of different health insurers is different we would always suggest that you should check with your insurer.

I have private medical insurance, can I use this for my physiotherapy treatment?

You should discuss attending physiotherapy with your insurer prior to your first appointment to ensure that your treatment will be reimbursed and the correct referral pathway is followed. If you have not done so prior to your first appointment we would expect you to pay for your first appointment as a self funding patient.

If you are using your health insurance we will ask you for your insurance details, such as your membership and claim numbers, your excess details etc, at your first appointment.

Midlothian Physiotherapy LLP is registered with BUPA and AXA. However if you have health insurance with another company and you wish to claim the cost of your treatment back from them please discuss this with your insurer directly.

How do I make an appointment to see a Physiotherapist ?

We try and make it as easy as possible to make an appointment to see us please contact us on  0131 561 9787 or email us(info@midlothianphysiotherapy.co.uk). Our clinic is in Eskbank just outside Edinburgh, we have parking outside the clinic and we are easily accessible by public transport from Edinburgh, Penicuik, Musselburgh and Midlothian. The clinic is a 6 minute walk from Eskbank railway station. We are open 5 days a week from 8 am to 8 pm and have no waiting list. If you are paying for your treatment yourself you can self refer without seeing your GP or other medical practioner such as a consultant.