The treatment on offer, and how to tell which you need
Most people arrive knowing what hurts rather than what to call it. Here is what each kind of treatment covers, in plain terms, so you can pick without guessing.
Musculoskeletal physiotherapy
The main work of the clinic, and what most people need. Muscles, joints and the way you move: a neck that stiffens by Thursday, a lower back that will not settle, the posture-related aches that build up at a desk, and whiplash after a road traffic accident.
It starts with an assessment of how the area moves and loads, then hands-on treatment where that helps, then a small set of exercises aimed at the thing that is actually driving the problem.
Post-operative rehabilitation
Structured rehabilitation after an operation: a joint replacement, a ligament repair, a shoulder or a spinal procedure. The surgical team sets the protocol and the timescales, and this is the work of following it properly, week by week.
Most of the people who book this want their walking, driving, gardening or golf back rather than an abstract number on a range-of-movement chart. The plan is written around whichever of those it is.
Massage therapy
Massage offered within physiotherapy, not as a spa treatment: Swedish massage and lymphatic drainage, used to ease muscular tension, support recovery and help you relax. It sits alongside treatment rather than replacing it, and it is carried out by a physiotherapist who knows the area she is working on.
It suits people who hold a lot of tension through the neck and shoulders, anyone recovering from a heavier week than usual, and those who simply want an hour that leaves them looser and calmer.
Start from the problem instead
If none of those obviously fits, work from what hurts. The condition pages describe the usual causes and what treatment involves for each.
It is also worth saying that the categories overlap, and that picking the wrong one when you book costs you nothing. A neck problem that started after a car shunt is whiplash and an everyday musculoskeletal problem at the same time. The assessment sorts that out in the first appointment, so book whichever is closest and let the rest follow.
Open late, priced up front
Weekday appointments run to 20:00 and Saturday afternoons are open from 14:00, so treatment fits around work rather than competing with it. The cost of an initial appointment and of follow-ups is set out before you book, so there is nothing to work out at the desk afterwards.
Book an appointment
You do not need a GP referral to book physiotherapy privately. Appointments are usually available within days rather than months.
Shop 2, 4-6 Roumelia Ln, Boscombe, Bournemouth BH5 1EU. A few minutes from Southbourne and Pokesdown, a short drive from Christchurch.