What is a Physiotherapist?
Chartered Physiotherapists are health professionals who are responsible for developing, maintaining or restoring movement and functional ability throughout the lifespan across the health spectrum using evidence-based practice.
My role as a Physiotherapist is to:
- Relieve pain and treat or prevent physical conditions.
- Promote physical independence and empower patients, and their carers, to manage their condition outside the clinical settings.
- Design and prescribe interventions specific to the individual (following assessment) to help people where movement and function are threatened by illness, pain, ageing, injury, disability, disease or environmental factors.
- Identify and maximise movement potential through promotion, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. Functional movement is central to what it means to be healthy.
- Assess and aid diagnosis of the problem area
- Refer for diagnostic tests such as X-Rays, Bloods, MRI’s either directly or through the G. P or consultant.
- Refer to Consultants any conditions that need further investigation and intervention.
- Liase with your G.P or Consultant on the management of your condition.
I am also a member of the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists, which provides a professional and ethical guidance on the practice of physiotherapy. I am registered under CORU- the regulatory body for health and Social Care professionals. Membership number: PT028337
What sort of treatment do physiotherapists use?
Physiotherapists are trained to assess your condition, diagnose the problem, and help you understand what’s wrong. Your treatment plan will take into account your lifestyle, activities and general health. The following are common treatment methods use by physiotherapists:
- Exercise programs to improve mobility and strengthen muscles
- Joint manipulation and mobilisation to reduce pain and stiffness
- Muscle re-education to improve control
- Airway clearance techniques and breathing exercises
- Soft tissue mobilisation (massage)
- Dry needling
- Assistance with use of aids, splints, crutches and walking sticks to help you move around.
- Biomechanical foot assessment and prescription of orthotics
- Ergonomic assessment and advice on the workplace setup.
- Provide Education and advice on conditions and their management.
- Taping and strapping of Injured joints to provide support and aid healing.
- Referral into class based groups to promote independence and progression of rehabilitation
What to expect at your first physiotherapy appointment with Niamh?
If you are visiting a chartered physiotherapist for the first time, you may expect:
• To provide information regarding your past and present medical history
• To have an assessment of your posture and how you move
• To get to the root cause of your pain/injury
• To receive hands-on or manual therapy
• To wear comfortable clothing for ease of examination and movement
• To be given an individually designed Home Exercise Programme
• To be given advice re sport, lifestyle, posture, ergonomics etc.
• To have a range of techniques used to optimise your individual treatment plan
• To be treated respectfully and safely
Insurance cover private for physiotherapy treatment.
All major Health Insurance providers (VHI, Laya and Glo Health) provide cover for treatment provided by a private Chartered Physiotherapist. The level of cover will vary in accordance with your individual health insurance plan. Check your policy information to find out what is included in your cover.
You may also be eligible to claim tax relief for your physiotherapy treatments using the Med 1 form (Note: Prior G.P. referral may be required)
I see patients in Ronan Carolan Physiotherapy Clinic and you book online at carolanphysio.ie or by contacting the clinic on 049 8547705.
