{"id":1675,"date":"2025-02-05T10:48:05","date_gmt":"2025-02-05T10:48:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wandsworthphysiotherapy.co.uk\/?page_id=1675"},"modified":"2026-08-07T08:57:11","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T08:57:11","slug":"frequently-asked-questions","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wandsworthphysiotherapy.co.uk\/frequently-asked-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"Frequently Asked Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Frequently Asked Questions<\/span><\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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General Information & Your First Appointment<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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What are Physiotherapy and Osteopathy? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Physiotherapy and Osteopathy are disciplines involving hands-on treatment of injuries and the prescription of rehabilitation exercises to help people overcome their pain and dysfunction. Our clinics across Wandsworth, South West London are here to get you back to what you love doing.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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What sort of problems do you treat? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Physiotherapists, Osteopaths and Podiatrists are trained to treat problems of the musculo-skeletal system \u2013 this means pain and injuries to your muscles, ligaments, joints and tendons. This includes injuries like back pain, and neck and shoulder pain; sports injuries like knee injuries, ankle and Achilles pain and tendonitis; hand and finger injuries and pain and dysfunction experienced during pregnancy such as pelvic girdle pain and sciatica.<\/p>

Physiotherapists also treat people after broken bones and surgery and guide people through their rehabilitation and get them back to full function.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Do I need a GP referral before I visit? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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No, you can refer yourself to see a Physiotherapist, Osteopath or Podiatrist across our clinics in SW18, SW15, SW11, SW1W or SW8 and pay for the treatment yourself. If you intend to use medical insurance you might need a GP referral first, or some insurance companies offer triage calls. A triage call is where you speak to a physio or nurse over the phone before being referred to us.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Why shouldn\u2019t I just go to the NHS as that\u2019s free? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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You can do this, however to get access to NHS physiotherapy you will first need to see your GP. This could take 2-3 weeks just to get your appointment with the GP. Once the GP has referred you to NHS physiotherapy you could be waiting 2 or 3 months on the waiting list.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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So I\u2019ve decided to visit Wandsworth Physiotherapy \u2013 what\u2019s the process? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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It is quicker and easier to book your appointment online by clicking on the \u201cBOOK NOW\u201d button or alternatively call our reception team on 020 3322 9455. You may get through to one of our team to book, or if the line is busy you’ll get through to our AI agent who can answer questions and send booking links. Please arrive 5 minutes prior to your appointment to fill out a consent form and past medical history form.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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How quickly can I be seen? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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We aim to offer you an appointments across all our clinic in Wandsworth within 24 hours of you contacting us. All you need to do is call our reception team on 020 33229455. You can also book online where you can select a day and a time that suits you best.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Do I need to take a day off work? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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No, don\u2019t worry, unlike the NHS physio department we are not just open Mon-Fri 9-5pm. We offer evening and weekend appointments as well as day time appointments.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Do I need a chaperone? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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We request that all children U16 are accompanied by a parent or guardian. Adults do not require a chaperone unless you feel you would prefer to bring one with you. We cannot provide trained chaperones. If you would prefer to only see a male or female therapist please select the therapist you would prefer to see when booking online, or speak with our reception team who will assist you.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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What happens in the first session? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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In an initial appointment you will be asked to explain your injury, how it happened, how long you have had it and how it makes you feel. You will be asked to set some goals about what you want to achieve from your time spent with at Wandsworth Physiotherapy and Osteopathy.<\/p>

Your therapist will also run through your past medical history finding out about any medical diagnoses or medicine that you take.<\/p>

Next your therapist will carry out a physical examination looking at the affected area plus carry out an assessment of your posture and how you move. Once they have carried out this assessment they will put together a treatment plan for you.<\/p>

In the remaining time of your initial assessment and on subsequent treatment sessions they will carry out this treatment plan and also give you home exercises to do to either resolve your problem or to give you a management strategy to keep your symptoms under control.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Do I get treatment during my first session? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Yes, your Physiotherapist, Osteopath and Podiatrist are medically and legally obliged to ask you questions about your medical history, assess your problem and design a treatment plan. Once this has been carried out you will receive treatment. However, if you are using HCML medical insurance your first appointment is an assessment only and treatment usually begins on your next appointment.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t