FAQs: Physiotherapy

What is Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapists use a variety of techniques to help muscles and joints work to the full potential and can help repair damage by speeding up the healing process and reducing pain and stiffness. After GPs, they are the first port of call for people with back pain, arthritis, repetitive strain injury and a host of other conditions. It can treat virtually any condition that affects muscles and nerves. Physiotherapy is available through the NHS and also privately. Treatments can include:- excercise programmes, manipulation and mobilisation, electrotherapy, acupuncture, hydrotherapy and massage. Nearly every fully trained physiotherapist in the UK is a member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and will have MCSP after their name. There are over 35,000 members many of whom are working in the NHS or in industry. Our directory lists only those in private practice and you should therefore be careful to ensure that the one you chose iis professionally qualified..

Professional Bodies

The Charted Society of Physiotherapy
14 Bedford Row
London
WC1 4ER
tel. 020 7306 666
fax. 020 7306 6611
website http://www.csp.org.uk

Training

At present, anyone can call themselves a physiotherapist and practice physiotherapy. They could have been struck off professional registers for professional misconduct. You should consider only phsiotherapists with a least one of the following sets of qualifications awarded by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy after their name:-

MCSP - Member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
FCSP - Fellow of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
SRP - State Registered Physiotherapist

Links

The Charted Society of Physiotherapy website - http://www.csp.org.uk

Resolve 20th January 2003