Health Response UK provides a service which gives you fast access to physical therapy for musculoskeletal injuries such as back and joint pain, muscle and ligament strains and sprains. We have clinics nationally across the UK and Republic of Ireland, and you do not need a letter or a visit to your GP to get treatment.

Because physical therapy acts directly on joints and muscles, it can in many cases be faster and more effective than traditional approaches such as rest or medication (painkillers or anti-inflammatory medication).

A physical therapist is a medically trained professional who treat patients using hands-on techniques like massage and manipulation, rather than prescribing medication. There are three main disciplines: physiotherapy, osteopathy and chiropractic. For more information on these disciplines please visit our Musculoskeletal Injury page.

A physical therapist can treat a range of common problems including:

• Back and neck pain
• Joint pain and stiffness
• Muscle and ligament sprains and strains
• Arthritis, whiplash, slipped discs, sciatica and trapped nerves
• Posture problems
• Musculoskeletal tension, headaches, migraines and the effects of stress
• Sports injuries

Once your manager has contacted HR UK to agree for you to have treatment, an HR UK operator will call you to arrange your first appointment. The operator will try and make the appointment convenient for you (either at a clinic close to your home or workplace). Generally, you will not have to travel more than 5–10 miles. It is important for you to tell us if you do not drive so that we can arrange for you to visit a clinic that is accessible using public transport.

Once the appointment time has been confirmed with the clinic an HR UK operator will inform you of the clinic details. Confirmation of the appointment time will also be sent to your manager. Once you have attended the clinic for your first consultation and you have been authorised by your manager for further treatment sessions you will be responsible for booking follow-up appointments directly with the clinic.

In general, the first treatment session lasts about 45 minutes, and subsequent treatments around half an hour. Your first appointment is usually slightly longer to allow for a full case history to be taken. At the end of the case history, if there is time and it is appropriate, the physical therapist may be able to provide you with some treatment. If after thorough consultation and examination the practitioner feels that physical therapy is not appropriate, you will be referred to your GP.

Before your consultation you will be asked to register your details and sign a consent form. The consent form is important to indicate that you agree for your details about your condition and treatment to be given to Health Response UK, and your Company, and also that you consent to be treated by the physical therapist.

During your first consultation, the physical therapist will talk to you about your medical history which may cover detailed information about:

• your lifestyle - such as your level of physical activity, sports, hobbies, your diet, and smoking and drinking habits.
• your work environment – what duties your work involves, shift patterns.
• the nature of the injury, how long you have had it, how it occurred, whether you have had it before, & what treatment or tests you have had.
• pre-existing medical conditions, hospital stays, serious illnesses, any medication that you have been prescribed.

The more information that you can give, the better in terms of the physical therapist being able to help you. However, you are not obliged to tell the practitioner anything which you feel is not relevant to the treatment of your current condition.

Following the medical history, the physical therapist will ask to assess your injury, and this may require you to undress to you underwear, or remove clothes covering the problem area. Therefore we recommend that you wear suitable underwear on the day of your appointment. However, you do not have to undress, and if you do not wish to do so then you can tell the physical therapist. The physical therapist can offer you a gown or towels to cover up if you prefer.

When the physical therapist assesses you, it is important they can see not only the area which seems to be causing the problem, but other areas which may be related to your condition. The physical therapist may also observe you making some simple movements to help them make a diagnosis.

The physical therapist will normally make a diagnosis and discuss with you the most appropriate treatment plan, estimating the likely number of sessions needed to treat your condition effectively. If the physical therapist thinks that your condition is unlikely to respond to treatment, you will be advised about how to seek further care.

AS A REMINDER: PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU MAY NOT RECEIVE TREATMENT AT THIS FIRST APPOINTMENT.

At subsequent treatment sessions the physical therapist will:

• Carry out physical treatment for your condition which may typically include one or more of the following techniques:
  • Massage and stretching of muscles
  • Mobilisation and manipulation of joints to improve movement
  • Joint traction
  • Use of electrical equipment such as ultrasound to encourage healing of damaged tissue.
• Help make sure that your joints and muscles work effectively
• Give helpful advice to prevent further injury:
  • Stretching and exercise
  • Postural education
  • Manual handling advice
  • Diet and lifestyle
  • Stress management.

The physical therapist will explain each procedure providing reassurance and confidence at each stage of treatment.

Where appropriate, your therapist may give you practical advice to help you prevent further injury, for example:

• stretching exercises.
• guidance on lifting, sitting and posture.
• advice on your diet and lifestyle.
• stress management.

It is usual for a patient to attend 1-2 times per week during the initial stages of treatment. This frequency of treatment often decreases as the patient’s condition improves.

If you are unable to attend your scheduled appointment you are required to inform the clinic or HR UK at least 24 hours in advance. If not, your employer will still be charged for the missed appointment and a session will be deducted from your total authorised sessions. The same applies if you are running late for your appointment; you should inform either the clinic or HR UK as soon as possible.

If you have any concerns about your treatment or physical therapist, please direct them immediately to your manager. Your manager will then discuss these with a Health Response UK Clinical Adviser. The Clinical Adviser will be able to advise the referring manager on the further action to take.

When you attend your treatment session, you will not be required to pay directly. Treatment payment will be organised through HR UK and your employer.

HR UK practitioners are all fully qualified and registered with their approved professional governing bodies and properly insured for Public and Medical Liability to carry out the treatments or therapy required of them.