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Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is a vibrant health care profession that aims to diagnose, rehabilitate, and improve movement disorders by using evidence-based, natural methods such as exercise, manual therapy, motivation, and specialist equipment.
Physiotherapy offers one on one assessment and treatments of injuries to muscles, joints, and neural tissues. Physiotherapy is also an ideal method of injury prevention and physical maintenance. Treatments are specifically tailored to the individual’s goals and current function.
Physiotherapy treatment consists of restoring joint movement and muscle length through manual therapy techniques and exercise with the aim of restoring normal function. These techniques vary based on the injury and patient long-term goals.
Some of the common conditions treated include:
• Neck Pain – Pinched nerve, Wry neck, Headaches
• Low Back Pain – Disc Bulge, Sciatica, Spondylosis
• Sports injuries – Sprains and Strains, Shoulder, Knee, Ankle or Foot
• ACL Rehabilitation

Sports Physiotherapy

Sports Physiotherapy is a specialism within Physiotherapy that involves prevention, evaluation, and management of injuries resulting from sports or exercise participation.
The aim of Sports Physiotherapy is to assess, treat, and rehabilitate injuries related to sport or physical activity. The injury can be fresh, old, recurring, or post-surgical. The road to recovery involves diagnosis and treatment to heal the injury. This is followed by neuromuscular control as well as strength and conditioning to avoid re-injury and allow for the return to sport or activity.
At our Queen Charlotte Street Clinic, we have a specialist sports and core stability Rehabilitation Physio (Nigel Farrelly).
Nigel has years of experience in rehabilitating a wide variety of cases – from the person trying to take part in their first Bristol Half Marathon right up to Olympic standard. He has access to weights for resistance training and a running machine for gait and running analysis. Nigel also has access to our rehab loft if more space is needed for your specific treatment programme.

Spinal Rehabilitation and Core Stability Conditioning

The core muscles include the abdominal, spinal, pelvic floor, and hip muscles which work together to provide stability in stationary and moving positions. Core stability exercises are designed to improve the strength and efficiency of these muscles. Improved core strength will lead to the following outcomes:
• Improved balance and coordination
• Increased muscle strength and flexibility
• Greater control of movements
• Improved posture
• Promotion of normal movement
• Reduced muscle imbalance
• Reduced pain
• Reduced muscle spasm

So, if you have had long-term back pain, your back muscles may no longer be able to fully control your spinal movement. Working with your physio, by way of exercises in our rehab gym or with exercises at home, can get you stable and strong again.
Our physios also work with patients straight after spinal surgery to get your back moving safely and to restore spinal and abdominal muscle function. This is critical if you are to make a full recovery and stop the problem reoccurring.
If you are unsure if we can help, just pick up the phone and we will be more than happy to discuss your case with you.

 

Specialist Injection Service

Injections can form an essential part of the treatment process. Although they can in some cases work in isolation, they are more often useful as part of an overall management program which may include mobility as well as strength and conditioning training.

Many joint and soft tissue conditions can be injected. Common injection sites and conditions

include:

  • Osteo arthritis of the knee, foot, ankle, hand, elbow, and shoulder
  • Carpel tunnel
  • Frozen shoulder
  • Subacromial pain syndrome
  • Trigger finger
  • De Quervain’s
  • Tenosynovitis
  • Tennis and Golfers elbow

What is a steroid?

A steroid is a naturally occurring hormone which has anti-inflammatory properties. When injected locally they produce a strong local anti-inflammatory effect. This results in pain reduction, restoration of function and allows for a return to sport and therapeutic exercise.

What is hyaluronic acid (Ostenil)?

This is also a naturally occurring substance, it is present in the body wherever lubrication between tissue is required, like in our joints. It acts as a shock absorber and lubricant in our joints and other tissues. It helps to restore the natural balance between the breakdown and production of sodium hyaluronate which ultimately results in decreased joint pain and stiffness. Hyaluronic acid also has an effect on the way the body responds to injury by acting as an anti-inflammatory helping to decrease swelling. There are no side effects to hyaluronic acid so it can be a great choice for patients with medical considerations.

 

What is anaesthetic?

Anaesthetic is a Latin term meaning “loss of sensation”. It is controlled and temporary. Anaesthetic may be used in conjunction with a steroid injection as a local pain relief, to numb sensation to the procedure allowing the treatment to be carried out with reduced discomfort.It has a secondary effect of acting as a transport mechanism allowing the steroid to be flushed around the joint.

If you feel an injection may be appropriate for you then we advise you have an initial assessment with Nigel Farrelly. He will discuss your suitability for the intervention by completing an accurate diagnosis and reviewing your previous conservative management.Injections may not be for everybody so a review of your medical history and medications will be discussed as well as going through the intended effects and potential side effects of the intervention and to make an individually tailored treatment plan.

 

Our Physiotherapists

Select by location:

Sophie Street

  • Queen Charlotte Street

Sophie Street   Sophie studied sport and exercise science at Bath University and worked as a Personal Trainer before qualifying as a chartered Physiotherapist. Sophie’s treatment style is unique to each individual patient and works to find and treat the root cause of your problem using a mix of soft tissue work, mobilisations, bespoke exercise … Continued

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Nigel Farrelly

  • Queen Charlotte Street

Nigel studied Physiology and Health Science at Carlow Institute of Technology before qualifying as a Chartered Physiotherapist from the University of the West of England and registering with the Health Care Professional Council in 2015. He is a confident, motivated, and results driven physiotherapist with a positive and enthusiastic attitude. Nigel’s high level of emotional … Continued

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