Physiotherapy in the UK

1. Terminology
2. Physiotherapy organisations
3. Training
4. What do physiotherapists do?
5. What to expect when you visit a Chartered Physiotherapist in Private Practice

Terminology

Under current law only people who are Registered with the Health Professions Council are able to call themselves physiotherapists. This means it is particularly important to make sure that any physiotherapist you visit is Registered. They will probably also have one of the following sets of initials after their name:

MCSP – Member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

FCSP – Fellow of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

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Physiotherapy organisations

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP)

Physio First (The Organisation of Chartered Physiotherapists in Private Practice) is an occupational group of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and as such is formally recognised by the Council of the Chartered Society as representing the interests of its self-employed members. Physio First has approximately 4000 members.

All Chartered Physiotherapists are bound by the Society's Rules of Professional Conduct and Standards of Physiotherapy Practice, regardless of whether they work within the public or private sector.

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Training

Chartered Physiotherapists study full-time for three or four years in University. During this time they complete over 1,000 hours of clinical practice in a number of different specialities. It is possible to train in part-time programmes however this is less common. After this initial period of training a physiotherapist is most likely to work within a general hospital within the NHS to gain experience.

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What do Chartered Physiotherapists do?

Chartered Physiotherapists are involved in a huge range of care. Common complaints treated by Chartered Physiotherapists include:

• Spinal problems – including prolapsed discs, degeneration, sciatica, lumbago, stiff/painful neck and referred arm and leg pains
• Joint problems – arthritis, injury, pain and swelling, stiffness in joints
• Injuries – to muscles ligaments, cartilage and tendons. Work related conditions such as repetitive strain injury (RSI) and sports injuries
• After surgery – rehabilitation after orthopaedic surgery eg. hip and knee replacements or general physiotherapy after general surgery
• Fractures – treatment to increase the healing rate and gain full function once the bones have healed
• Abdominal problems – such as spastic colon, colitis and irritable bowel syndrome
• Gynaecological conditions – including stress incontinence, salpingitis and post-surgery rehabilitation
• Obstetrics – including ante and post-natal classes/exercise/relaxation/advice and treatment for backpain during pregnancy
• Chest conditions – both medical and surgical including hayfever, asthma and sinusitis, pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, emphysema, bronchitis and bronchiectasis
• Neurological conditions – such as strokes, head injuries, nerve injuries, multiple sclerosis, shingles, cerebral palsy and ME
• Paediatrics – for childhood conditions including postural and walking problems
• Circulatory problems – such as Raynauds disease, wounds, ulcers and cardiac rehabilitation

Physiotherapists will not only treat the problem but by spending time with the patient will often be able to show the patient how to help prevent the problem happening again.

Physiotherapists use a number of different techniques including manipulation and mobilisation, massage, hydrotherapy, exercise programmes, electrotherapy (eg. ultrasound) and in some cases acupuncture.

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What to expect when you visit a Chartered Physiotherapist in Private Practice

The Physiotherapists will first take a detailed history of your condition together with any relevant past medical history.

A physical assessment will then be undertaken to determine the clinical diagnosis of your problem. The physiotherapist will discuss with you a proposed treatment plan and will give you an estimate as to the length of treatment required and the proposed outcome of your treatment.

The initial assessment will probably last up to one hour and subsequent treatment sessions will last between thirty and forty-five minutes approximately.

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