Service : Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Outpatients

We can create treatment plans with you to manage or improve musculoskeletal conditions.

Common conditions we can help treat include:

• Neck or back pain, such as sciatica
• Osteoarthritis
• Fractures
• Tendon issues, like tennis elbow or Achilles tendinopathy
• Ligament issues, like a tear or rupture
• Recovering from musculoskeletal surgery
• Long term conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and chronic pain

How we can help

We'll create your care plan together with you to manage your symptoms, and include advice and sessions such as:

• exercises you can do at home, in the gym or as part of one of our classes to improve your strength, co-ordination and balance
• advice on how to reduce or manage your pain effectively
• rehabilitation to help improve your daily movements and reduce factors contributing to your pain
• exercises to help you return to sports and hobbies
• manual therapy
• acupuncture

You can be referred to us by your GP, consultant, or self-refer using our online form.

Unfortunately we do not accept telephone self-referrals.

Refer yourself

Read our help and guidance document before starting your self-referral form.

If your pain does not improve after following our advice then complete the self-refer form.

The self referral form will ask you questions about your injury. If you would like to be assessed for more than one body part or for multiple injuries then please complete a separate referral form for each one.

We'll review your referral and then either call you or send a letter when we're able to offer you an appointment. 

• Use our MSK referral form

Before you to your first appointment, come we may ask you to complete a questionnaire about your issue.

Please also aim to arrive 10 minutes early to complete any paperwork.

For your appointment, remember:

• bring a list of any medication you're taking,
• bring any communications between you and your GP, specialist or consultant
• wear comfortable, loose clothing and footwear you can move around in, to help with your physical check
• you're welcome to bring a chaperone with you, or request further help when you book your appointments 

Your first appointments will last around 30 to 40 minutes. 

When we meet you, we’ll talk about your current condition and how it affects your life. We'll then do a a physical assessment. If your appointment is face-to-face, we may ask you to take off some items of clothing to help with our assessment, if you feel comfortable doing so.

Please let us know as soon as you can if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment.

If you miss your appointment and don’t reschedule within a week, we’ll discharge you back to your GP.

If you're more than 10 minutes late for any appointments, we may not be able to see you

Treatment

Our goal is always to help you self-manage your symptoms. After your first assessment, we will recommend treatment which focusses on education and exercise to put you in control of your recovery.

We'll look at the different treatment options to suit you.

Although our team can't request further investigations or imaging such as X-rays, MRI, or ultrasound, we're able to link with appropriate services when needed.

Self care

We’ve created self-care leaflets with simple exercises you can do at home to improve mobility and ease pain. These leaflets are designed to complement the advice given by your GP and physiotherapist.

We have also created videos to explain what causes pain and how you can ease your symptoms. 

• Learn more about lower back pain
• Learn more about leg pain
• Learn more about arm pain

Self care leaflets

View all of our self care leaflets, to help you ease your symptoms at home. 

• View all self care leaflets

Arthritis UK (formerly Versus Arthritis)

A charity that supports people with arthritis by providing information, funding research, and campaigning for better care.

• Visit the Arthritis UK website

Digital Weight Management Programme

The NHS Digital Weight Management Programme offers support to adults living with obesity who also have diabetes, high blood pressure, or both. This 12‑week online programme focuses on healthy lifestyle and behaviour change, and can be accessed conveniently through a smartphone or computer with internet connection.

• Visit the NHS UK website

ESCAPE pain

ESCAPE pain is a group rehabilitation programme for people with chronic joint pain. It combines education, self‑management, and coping strategies with a personal progressive exercise programme. This programme should help you understand your condition, adopt simple self‑care techniques, and learn to better manage pain.

• Visit the ESCAPE website

Sport in Mind

The website Sport in Mind offers free sport and physical activity programmes designed to support people experiencing mental health problems, alongside opportunities to donate, fundraise, volunteer, and learn more about the charity’s impact.

• Visit the Sport in Mind website