What to ask a Physio

Trea

Der all,
I have my first physio appointment in March and am just wondering what should I remember to ask? My experience with the local one is not great (daughter had to see them and they literally just printed off the exercises from patient website) I really want to be prepared...
Ta Trea :?:

stickywicket

Interesting. I've never thought what to ask a physio. I've always been referred so that they could help me regain some movement from one joint or another so, for me, it's always been a matter of listening rather than asking unless there was something I didn't understand. Sometimes I've had a course of treatment but other times it really is a matter of learning which exercises to do, and how, and then getting on with them at home. They do make a difference.

Trea

Hi SW, they are all overworked here and that's why I feel the need to prepare. If I just listen I will probably get the general backstretch handout and good bye. ATM I am fine as well, so movements not too bad
Trea

dreamdaisy

I'm similar to Sticky, I've been referred by my rheumatologist so from the start the physio knows I have joint troubles but not necessarily the extent of them - I like to provide a challenge I also know why I've been referred so that gives me some insider knowledge - my last lot was to help stretch my Achilles tendons and they helped with that - in fact I must start doing them again.

Yes, I've had the handouts, they are a good, basic guide to what to do, but they have always been adapted by them to suit me and any good physio should make adjustments if required. The questions I have asked include how often should I do them, whether I should carry on if they hurt or not, what are we hoping to achieve with doing them and what bad habits do I need to avoid when doing them - those are very easy to slip into! DD

stickywicket

DD makes a good point. If you're OK right now you need to know why you've been referred. What was the purpose behind it? For a maintenance regime to help you stay that way? For what to do when things get bad? A bit of both?

When things are bad we usually need to go a bit easier on the exercise front. More ROM (Range of Movement) exercises and less strengthening ones. But, when they 're reasonably OK, it's all to easy to forget about exercises and feel we're getting enough with household tasks. Not necessarily. That's when we can work at keeping muscles strong by doing a bit more and / or using weights.

Good luck with it all.

Trea

Thanks guys, I have been referred in November when I really struggled, but no reason given other than if you have arthritis physio helps.
Your questions are helpful and I will ask about what to do now and when it's bad...

Ladybrown

Hi Trea
I went to Physio and asked specifically for help with finding out how I could exercise without putting too much strain on my creaky knees, alongside the strengthening exercises I already had. I was lucky enough to be offered a course of 1:1 30 min sessions in the gym to help me try different things out. I now have a few bits of equipment in the spare room and am binning the gym membership.
Good luck!

hileena111

Hi
When I went to the physio they knew what was wrong with me and advised me what I should and shouldn't do and that was that.
Love
Hileena

Trea

Thank you all for your help. Just learned from a friend that the physio can also refer to acupuncture.... any thoughts on this one? (I think it doesn't do any harm so might give it a go anyway...)
Trea

dreamdaisy

Acupuncture can help with temporary pain relief, as do many other things, but it cannot repair and is unlikely to slow the progress of the disease. DD

hileena111

Hi
My physio was trained in acupuncture and I had it for a while. OK it was temporary but who cares........a bit of release from pain is better than none

Love
Hileena

Trea

Thanks hileena, I know there is no cure DD but any relief without too much side effect sounds great! Not sure if I get acupuncture anyway
Trea

LiberatedLouise

I have lateral foot pain - cuboid syndrome - and am going to a physiotherapist on Monday.
I imagine I would ask her how to keep this osteoarthritis in my foot at bay. Will walking hurt it or help it with circulation? Why do I have it in my right foot but not left? What type of exercises can I do at home that will help? Should I seek a doctor who specializes in arthritis for further tips?

stickywicket

Some answers to your questions can be found here, LiberatedLouise, https://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/managing-arthritis/diet-and-exercise/exercise-and-arthritis You might be especially interested in the section 'Can exercise make my arthritis worse?' (Answer - not if it's the right kind of exercise.)

I hope your physio appointment goes well. There aren't any specialists in osteoarthritis (which, I believe is what you have). Rheumatologists deal with the autoimmune types of arthritis. GPs deal with OA. Orthopaedic surgeons
replace worn out bits. Physios are the best people to advise re exercises.

Have you had a look round Arthritis Care's Managing Arthritis section? There are lots of good tips there.

dreamdaisy

Exercise of the right kind is helpful to keep the muscles surrounding the affected joints as strong and flexible as possible to better support the joint. It is likely to hurt due to the deterioration already present in the joint but one soon adjusts to that and you will learn when to pause for a rest. I still do my post-op exercises for my upper and lower legs and have regular sports massage which is agony but redistributes all the toxins that build up due to my lack of mobility. DD