About Sports Injury Physiotherapy
When should I see a sports physiotherapist after getting injured?
The first week of injury is best served resting the injury and using ice and pain relief. After that week is the best time to start physiotherapy rehab. This means we can start optimising the healing process for the best outcome rather than waiting for suboptimal healing and trying to correct it several months later.
Do I need a Doctor’s referral to see a Physio at Vfit physio?
You do not need a GP referral to get an appointment at Vfit physio. You can call, email or book online through the website.
Do you treat tendon injuries such as tennis elbow and achilles tendonopathy?
Yes we treat all tendon problems. The most common ones are tennis and golfers elbow, achilles tendonopathy, patella and quads tendonopathy, Gluteal tendonopathy and rotator cuff injury.
What type of injuries does a sports physio treat? Physiotherapists at VFit physio treat a wide variety of conditions including sports injuries, joint and muscle injuries, post-surgical rehabilitation, back neck and shoulder pain, postural problems.
Your First Visit
What should I expect in my first sports physiotherapy appointment at Vfit Physio in Mansfield?
The initial session will start with some questioning to find out more about your injury, how it happened and how it is affecting you. Also your general work and activity levels to see if they are an issue.
After this you will undergo a physical examination where we will look at the muscles, ligaments and joints moving and perform tests to work out what the problem is.
Once we have determined a diagnosis we can administer some treatment, work out a treatment plan and provide you with some exercises to start your rehab.
What should I bring to my appointment?
If you have a leg injury then bring a pair of shorts ideally. Failing that then loose fitting trousers. If you have health insurance then bring your authorisation details if you have not already entered these into the online registration form. For people with long hair attending with neck problems a hair bobble/scrunchie/grip to tie your hair up.
Diagnosis and Assessment
Can physiotherapy help with long-standing joint pain, even if it’s not from a sports injury?
Whilst we predominantly see sports injuries we are also trained to treat more general conditions such as long term joint pains and non sports related injuries.
How do you diagnose injuries? We take a detailed history of your injury and your general health and lifestyle. After this we perform a physical examination to look at how you move, where restrictions are, what actions are painful and certain evidence based special tests to point towards a specific diagnosis. For most injuries we are able to determine the diagnosis without scans however in a small amount of cases where the diagnosis is unclear we would suggest a scan before moving forward.
When do you recommend an MRI scan or x-ray?
If we are unable to determine the diagnosis, we may suggest you undergo some form of scan. Often physiotherapy comes first since most cases we can diagnose without the need to go through the whole process of getting a scan. Should we feel you need a scan? We would write a referral letter to your GP to action this. In most cases the GP is content that we have done our due diligence to determine the suitability for a scan. Scans through the NHS can take some time so should you prefer to go privat we can refer you to Vista health at Nottingham. These are often been carried out the same week. If you have health insurance cover your insurer is usually happy to refer you on following our assessment.
Treatment and Rehabilitation
What type of treatments do sports physiotherapists use at VFit physio? We a have a number of options at our disposal including manual therapy, soft tissue massage, exercise therapy, postural advice, electrotherapy, education and taping. We more or less of these in combination depending on the injury and what it requires.
Why don’t you treat every injury with massage? Massage can play a small role in certain conditions but its effects are generally short lived. The type of treatments we suggest will depend on the diagnosis. Not every condition will benefit from massage such as joint and ligament injuries. We want to get you better as soon as possible so if other treatment modalities are more effective we will focus on those.
Why do exercises matter? Many injuries are the result of weakness in certain muscle groups or require muscles to be stronger. Hands-on treatment can be very beneficial as part of the healing process, but they will not make you any stronger. Therefore the right exercises and progression is just as important to ensure complete recovery and prevent future re occurrence.
Recovery and Return to Sport
How long does recovery from a sports injury normally take? That is a difficult question to answer. Certain types of injuries take longer the recover than others. The severity of the injury also determines the length of recovery. Most uncomplicated muscle strains improve in around six weeks, although more severe injuries will take longer. Tendon injuries are slower healing and can be as long as 6-9 months.
What happens if my injury is not improving? If your injury is not recovering as expected or we are unsure of the diagnosis we can provide you with a referral letter to take to your GP requesting a scan, such as MRI / xray, or referral on to an orthopaedic doctor. Scans through the NHS can take some time so should you prefer to go private and self pay we can refer you to Vista health at Nottingham.city hospital. These are often been carried out the same week. If you have health insurance cover your insurer is usually happy to refer you on following our assessment.
How long does it take to recover from a Hamstring strain? The average recovery rate for a muscle strain such as hamstring, quad, calf etc. is about 6 weeks. Mild strains will be quicker, more severe will take a little longer.
How many appointments will I realistically need?
This is a difficult question to answer as it would depend on quite a lot of different factors including severity of the injury, type of injury, how long the injury has been present and your home and work life stresses on the injury site. As a general rule of thumb minor muscle strains are typically 2 to 4 sessions. Tendon problems are typically 6 to 8 sessions or more. Post-operative rehab can span several months, but the latter sessions are generally spaced out several weeks apart.
Why do some injuries take longer than expected? Multiple factors affect recovery rate. These can include age, severity, compliance, health, workload, sleeping pattern, smoking and previous injuries.
Why do some injuries take longer than expected? Multiple factors affect recovery rate. These can include age, severity, compliance, health, workload, sleeping pattern, smoking and previous injuries.
Preventing re-injury
Will physiotherapy at Vfit physio prevent my sports injury form recurring?
At Vfit physio we don’t just help your injury heal we also look at rehab to make you stronger and more mobile than before to reduce the chance of further injuries in the future.
Prices, Insurance & booking
Do you accept health insurance policies or work insurance schemes?
We are recognised by all the major health insurance companies such as Bupa, AXA, WPA, Aviva etc.. Once you have authorisation from your insurance company we invoice the insurer directly. We also carry the necessary credentials so you can claim back on any work cash back scheme such as health shield, Paycare and Westfield health.
How much does Physiotherapy cost?
You will need an initial assessment to start with. This involves us taking a detailed history of your injury and current lifestyle. Then we will have a look at your muscles and joints and how you move to determine a diagnosis. over 90% of patients choose the option that includes a treatment with it. This costs £77. A small number of patients choose the basic assessment, as outlined here. You would be given a diagnosis after the assessment and some advice / exercises to help you start your recovery. This is £49
Are there any hidden costs?
There are no hidden costs. Your initial consultation will include a report and any referrals to your GP offer a scan or free of charge. We do sell a small selection of supports tape and insoles. If we think these may be beneficial to your recovery we will say so but you are free to purchase these elsewhere if you prefer.
Clinic information
What is the difference between a Physiotherapist and a Chiropractor?
A physiotherapists approach is holistic and evidence based focussing on improving movement, restoring function and reducing pain. They assess the body as a whole and treat root causes through manual therapy, exercise and education. Chiropractors focus on spinal health and the impact on the nervous system. They believe misalignments of the spine can affect the the nervous system and overall health. They primarily aim to correct the misalignments through spinal manipulations.
Who will actually treat me?
We have 2 Physiotherapists here who have both have completed a BSc(Hons) Physiotherapy degree in the UK and both are registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) to be able to work as a registered Physiotherapist. Both worked in the NHS in the early part of their career before moving to private practice. Chloe has 18 years experience and Vee has 24 years experience. You will typically see the same Physiotherapist for all your treatment sessions.
Will you tell me if Physiotherapy isn’t right for me?
at the initial assessment we will be able to determine if physiotherapy right for you. If it isn’t, we will tell you so rather than start any treatment. Instead, we will suggest where you will be better served and often refer you to your GP to put you on the right pathway. Examples of this might be if we think you have completely ruptured a tendon and need surgical intervention or if your symptoms are neurological in nature and require a neurology specialised physiotherapist / doctor.
Can I stop treatment whenever I want?
You can stop treatment whenever you like.
Will I be pressured into booking more sessions?
No, we only recommend appointments that are clinically appropriate and even then it is up to you whether you want to go ahead with that. After your initial assessment and diagnosis you get to choose. We also do not ask you to block book and pay for a number of sessions up front like some clinic do.
Can you guarantee i’ll recover with your services?
The human body is very complex and everyone is different so, unfortunately we cannot guarantee you will recover. What we can guarantee is that we will determine if we are not helping you very early on and refer on appropriately.
Will you recommend treatments I do not need?
We only recommend follow-up appointments when they are clinically justified. Some patients improve after one consultation and simply need advice and an exercise programme. Others, particularly those recovering from surgery or tendon injuries, benefit from ongoing rehabilitation. We’ll explain why we recommend any follow-up and you’re never under pressure to book additional sessions.
How quickly can I get an appointment?
although we are a very busy clinic, you can often get an appointment within 1 to 2 weeks.
Can I book online 24/7?
Yes, you can book through our website 24/7
I have seen physiotherapy on the NHS. How is Vfit physio different?
The NHS physiotherapy service is very stretched and they do not have the capacity to offer a full package of care in a timely manner. At Vfit physio we can see you quickly, have longer appointment sessions to understand your problem and provide hands on treatment in addition to advice and exercise, and follow you up regularly to ensure you are progressed at the correct stage for the fastest possible recovery.