Frequently Asked Questions
What is Neuro Physiotherapy?
A Physiotherapist is a protected title under the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and you must be registered with the HCPC to use this title.
Physiotherapists often choose to specialise in an area of interest to them, and complete continuing professional development to further their knowledge and expertise throughout their career.
Neuro Physiotherapy is a specialist area of Physiotherapy. We assess and treat clients with movement related problems, following damage to the central or peripheral nervous system.
I have a progressive condition, can Neuro Physiotherapy help?
Most definitely. However, it is important to understand that Neuro Physiotherapy cannot cure progressive conditons and there are only some conditions such as Parkinsons Disease where exercise has been shown to slow progression.
Wherever possible, we want to help you to improve your independence and this can be possible with progressive conditions. Interventions such as balance exercises, strengthening exercises, gait education, cueing and movement strategies may be appropriate for you.
If you have had a recent decline in your level of function and this is due to disease progression, we will help you to adapt to your new baseline. Where restoration of movement is not possible, we look to support you with compensatory strategies.
Below is a list of some interventions which can be very helpful:
- Posture management. The position you're in over the full 24 hours of a day is very important. We may recommend stretches, positioning cushions, education to you +/- care givers or onward referrals such as to wheelchair services.
- Spasticity management. Spasticity causes overactivity in muscles which can lead to shortening of tissues, pain and reduced function. It is important to ensure spasticity is managed optimally by someone with a specialist understanding of muscle tone.
- Falls education. If you have had recent falls, we can look to review risk factors within your home environment, review aids and look at exercises such as how to get up off the floor.
- Pain management. If you have specific pain linked to your neurological conditions, we can complete a thorough assessment and offer advice or intervention such as taping, massage or TENS.
Please get in touch for a more personalised answer to this question.
I've been told I won't improve further, is this true?
Neuro Physiotherapy Works will happily assess and give you an honest opinion about whether we feel improvements are likely to be made.
You know your condition and situation best, and if you feel you have more potential, we hope to be able to support you further. However, some neurological conditions do follow a progressive pattern which Physiotherapy cannot influence, and we never want to mislead you in relation to your prognosis. We may advise you that we don’t think therapy will lead to improvements, but offer some element of maintenance therapy or trial of equipment to help you.
No two people with a neurological condition are the same and there are a number of factors which influence your potential to improve. 'Plateauing' can be due to other comorbidities or social influences which affect your ability to engage in therapy sessions.
If you feel your circumstances have changed, now might be the time to reassess.
Do I need a referral?
No, you can self-refer. We are also happy to accept referrals from other health professionals.
How do I book an appointment?
First you need to make an enquiry. It is useful to provide your name, contact number, and a brief summary of your condition and reason for contacting us.
You can do this either via:
1. Website: The 'contact us' form
2. Telephone: 07871794867 (Phone call, message or whatsapp)
3. Email: neurophysiotherapyworks@gmail.com
We aim to get back to all initial enquiries within 72 hours. Appointments will then be offered following a phone consultation to ensure our service is right for you. This can take around 15-20 minutes to complete and is free of charge. We are always happy to discuss your questions and help where possible. If our services are not for you, we will aim to signpost you to local or online services that may be able to assist.
If you have any reason why you cannot engage in a phone consultation, we can arrange alternative means of communication.
How far do you travel from Bury St Edmunds?
We are based in Bury St Edmund's Suffolk, and cover home visits within a 15 mile radius of IP33 3BB within our treatment fees.
We do cover visits further afield than this, but at an additional cost of £1 per mile to compensate for extra time spent and travel costs.
What happens at the first appointment?
Your initial assessment will be completed within your own home. You may wish for a family member, friend or carer to be present - this can be really helpful for us and you.
We will ask for your consent for us to complete a full assessment. If there is anything you are uncomfortable with, you can let us know.
There will be a lot of questioning as we gain more understanding of your condition and what difficulties you are currently facing. These questions help us to get to know you and to tailor the physical assessment.
We will then complete a thorough physical assessment - assessing how body parts move and how you move around your home e.g. standing from a chair. We will analyse your movement and determine how in combination with other aspects of your condition this impacts on your ability to carry out daily tasks.
The first appointment is mainly dedicated to the assessment process, but, we will end the session with a summary of what we have found and a plan tailored to you and your circumstances. We will always be open and honest about how we can help and what is potentially achievable.
How many times will I be seen?
This is up to you and it really depends what you are hoping to achieve with our support. There is no set number or obligation to commit to a block of sessions.
Ultimately, we want you to confidently and effectively self manage your condition in as few sessions as possible.
Some people will have a long term condition, and just request a one off session to refresh their self management plan, others may be at the early stages of their rehab journey and require more intense/frequent input to meet their goals.
How much will sessions cost and how do I pay?
The costs are outlined in the treatment fees page.
An initial assessment is £120 and will take up to 90 minutes. There are two options for treatment sessions. Option 1 is a 60 minute session and costs £100. Option 2 is an 'express' session and costs £60. The shorter sessions may be a good option if you have a focused treatment plan set by us and do not have new complaints to discuss. They are also ideal for clients who experience fatigue or struggle to focus for longer periods.
Additionally, we offer goal setting sessions, which are completed via Telephone or Zoom. These last for 30 minutes and cost £30.
Initial assessments are paid for after the appointment has occured. Follow up sessions are paid for in advance.
Preferred payment method is via bank transfer to a Monzo Business account (details will be outlined on the invoice). Cheque and cash are also accepted.
Please note we do not currently accept payment from insurance companies. If you have medical insurance you will need to check they will cover the cost of treatment first.
Where will I receive treatment?
We are a domicillary service and offer assessment and treatment at your home, in residential homes and nursing homes. There are also some instances where we may work with you out and about in the community or at your local gym or pool.
We will discuss with you your preferred location for assessment and treatment on an individual basis.
Can I work with you and NHS Physiotherapists at the same time?
Absolutely. This is a common occurence and we are very happy to work alongside other therapists.
If you consent, it is often good for us to have a conversation with your NHS therapist to ensure that we are working together and towards the same goals.
We would also not advise scheduling your sessions too close together - definitely not on the same day, and ideally with rest days inbetween the sessions. This helps you to get the most from the sessions.
What is your cancellation policy?
If you cancel or reschedule an appointment more than 24 hours in advance of the appointment, there will be no fee to pay.
Unfortunately, if you cancel within 24 hours, we request that you pay 50% of the fee.