Whether you have an arthritic knee, a sporting injury or a headache, it can be hard to figure out which therapist is going to offer you the best relief. Here’s our quick guide to the variety of therapies on offer at the Woodside Clinic, and how to find the right one for you.
Finding the right physical therapy
A new pain or injury can send you on a journey seeking a manual therapist to help. But how do you know which kind of therapy to choose? It’s a question we’re often asked here at Woodside Clinic.
The advantage of a clinic like ours is that you don’t have to be sure. We’re here to advise you.
During an evaluation with one therapist, it can sometimes become obvious that a different therapy would be more appropriate. All our therapists are fully qualified in their own area, but they also have a good understanding of the role other therapies within the clinic play.
Personal preference
Burdened with a sports injury or an achy shoulder? Several therapies could help, including physiotherapy, osteopathy, acupuncture and remedial massage. But which is right for you?
You may have tried a therapy previously, and you know what will help. Or you might just prefer the sound of a particular treatment. You can go ahead and book with your chosen therapist, in the knowledge that there are alternatives you can try if you wish.
If you’ve tried a therapy before and not had great success, don’t be put off trying something different. There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to physical therapy, so it can be worth trying something new.
From one therapy to another
Occasionally, during the course of treatment with one therapist, it becomes clear that a different therapy would be useful.
For example, one client visited our osteopath for help with low back pain. This had come on since he’d increased his running distances. Our osteopath identified that the main contributor was a leg-length difference, caused by a leg fracture 15 years earlier. His body had coped with this well – it was only now he was increasing his running that problems were developing. The osteopath suggested he had a session with our podiatrist. He was fitted with some custom shoe inserts to reduce the leg-length difference. This got him back to his running pain-free.
Our knowledgeable therapists will always refer you within the team if they believe you’d benefit from a different therapy.
A combined approach
Sometimes, the combining therapies is the ideal way to get rapid results. At Woodside Clinic, we will advise you if we think you’d get the best outcome this way.
A combination approach can mean that the benefits of one therapy can enhance another. It’s a treatment double-whammy that puts you back on your feet in the shortest time and keeps you there.
One such situation involved a client who was an enthusiastic rugby player, though he was plagued by repeated hamstring injuries. Several sessions of physiotherapy gave him a lot of relief. However, to get a long-lasting result, we suggested that he combine his physio sessions with Pilates. These sessions improved his strength, stability and flexibility. He was then able to maintain the effects of his physiotherapy sessions and prevent his injuries recurring.
The Woodside Clinic team of physical therapists
We’re proud of our team and our mission is to fix our clients fast! If you’d like to book with one of our team members, call our Dunstable or Leighton Buzzard clinic now or book online.