I like to think that when you come to see me at Nell Mead Physiotherapist, you’re getting something different from standard physiotherapy. And judging by the number of people who stick with me for treatment and recommend me to their friends and colleagues; and by the number of therapists and medical consultants who refer patients to me, I’m not wrong. But what am I doing that’s so different?
Longer sessions
First of all, I spend a lot more time with you than you’ll get at most clinics. My assessment sessions are 90 minutes long, which allows me to have a really in-depth discussion and a thorough look at your whole body, to work out where your problem is coming from, and the best way to help you. This is different to most clinics where the assessment session is 30-45 minutes long. (Of course, if your case turns out to be straightforward, then we can start treatment right away; but as most of my patients are quite complex, it gives me time to be able to look at you properly without being rushed.) My follow-up sessions are also at least an hour long. That’s because, if you have a standard half-hour session, you’ll probably spend 5-10 minutes in discussion at the start, 5-10 minutes recapping, getting dressed and rebooking at the end, and only 10-15 minutes having actual treatment. But with a 60-minute session, you’ll get 40-45 minutes of treatment time, which is a lot more efficient and allows us to get a lot more done.
Emphasis on health
Most physiotherapists, with the best will in the world, will only have the time (and/or the training) to focus on your musculoskeletal system – your bones, joints and muscles. Don’t get me wrong – that is important. But if you’re not feeding your muscles properly, if you’re stressed out and not sleeping – this will affect your ability to heal and to stay healed. That’s why I created the Health & Performance Pyramid, so that we look first at your tissue health and inflammation, and then at your musculoskeletal system. I also have training and experience working with other systems – for example the craniosacral and visceral systems – which also impact on your musculoskeletal system, so the treatment you get with me is often different, in that it’s very holistic and thorough.
Treating the cause, not just the symptoms
For argument’s sake, say it’s your knee that hurts. Most physiotherapists are trained to examine your knee – how well it bends and straightens, whether there’s damage to ligaments or cartilage, how flexible your muscles are. They’ll find the structure that hurts (ligament, bone, muscle) and then treat that to help it feel better.
The problem is that if all you do is treat the symptoms, the problem is likely to come back once you stop treating it.
So, when you come to see me, it’s a different experience. I’ll assess your whole body to look for where the problem is coming from – very often, your knee won’t be the cause – it’ll be compensating for a problem in your foot, hip, pelvis, thorax or even shoulder. The average physiotherapist doesn’t know how to assess for the underlying cause (or the “driver” as we call it); but I use techniques pioneered by Diane Lee in Vancouver to help me work out why you’ve got the problem – and then to help me work out how best to treat it.
Planned treatment
Once I’ve assessed you, we’ll work out a treatment plan that, if appropriate, will be over several sessions. And once you and I have agreed that plan, I”ll ask you to commit to it up front and see it through. While most clinics will offer a “pay as you go”, pop-in service, I want to make long term changes to your brain and body, and this normally needs several sessions for the changes to really become permanent. Think of it as a course of antibiotics – you may start to feel better after a few days of taking the tablets, but unless you finish the course of treatment, the problem might come back. I want your treatment with me to be thorough, and for the results to last.
Teamwork
Although I’m now a sole practitioner, I’m still a big believer in teamwork.
After a course of physiotherapy, I’m likely to refer you onto one of my network of excellent rehabilitators, personal trainers or yoga/pilates therapists to help you consolidate your new, improved movement habits, as this again will help you to make the long-term changes you need, and to build up the strength and flexibility that will give you spare capacity in your system to keep you robust.
And if you need more help than I can provide on my own, then I’ll be delighted to collaborate with, or refer you on to, one or more of my wide network of doctors and other therapists; and we’ll keep the communication going so that you get as joined-up a service as we can provide.
So… how does that sound? Hopefully it sounds just like what you’ve been looking for… and if that’s true, then why not give my team a call on 0207 175 0150, so that we can get started!