Frequently Asked Questions

You may have some questions about what to expect when you come for treatment. We hope that the information below will help answer them. If it does not then please feel free to contact us and talk to our reception. Remember if you have an injury then don’t let it get worse and create more problems. Book in now to get the treatment you deserve.

How long is my appointment for?

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Initial visits of 45 minutes duration and follow up visits of 30 miunutes unless otherwise required.

What can I expect during my treatment sessions?

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An extensive assessment of your injury/condition, posture, movement patterns and activities will be conducted and a detailed diagnosis and treatment plan explained to you.

What different type of treatments does Central Lakes Physio offer?

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An individualized programme will be established for you including hands-on treatment, supervised exercise/activity and a home exercise programme.

Do we have access to any Gym or Pilates equipment to help with our rehab?

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We have access to all the Gym facilities at Pro-active Gym on Plantation Road.

What is Real Time Ultrasound Scanning(RTUS)?

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Very useful in the training of deep abdominal and stability muscles as well as diagnosing muscle or tendon tears. It is a way that you can see the internal workings on your body in a tangible way. The brain needs to get information in multiple ways to be able to interpret how to make the muscles work.

Since everyone learns differently we need to find the best method for each individual. For visual learners RTUS is perfect as it is like a window to your muscles and joints so you can see how things move. When you contract a muscle you can see it move (that is why it is called real time). When it is doing the wrong thing we can also see. Then we need to look at retraining the right muscles. This all starts by teaching your top two inches how to connect with your body.

Do you offer Pilates and what is it exactly?

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The majority of our therapists are also Pilates trained and use this as a valuable treatment tool. Pilates is an exercise that incorporates breathing, stretching, core strengthening, movement coordination and much much more. The reason it works well when you have had an injury as it helps to retrain movement patterns that you may not be aware of. You will work one on one with a physio that is trained in Pilates and either work on a home exercise programme or in the fully equipped Pilates studio we have on site with Core Strength Pilates. The long term option is if Pilates works to help manage your injury then you have the possibility of joining in with the Core Strength Pilates Studio’s classes. They have both Mat and Studio classes running all week with a wide variety in times and instructors. Talk to your therapist or reception if you are wanting to book in.

What is acupuncture and is it safe?

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If necessary and agreeable, acupuncture may be used as part of your treatment. Acupuncture is a form of therapy where fine needles are inserted into the skin and muscles along specific points in the body. There are different forms of acupuncture such as trigger point therapy and western based acupuncture. Your treatment is individually chosen with different treatment lengths been chosen depending on the desired effect of treatment. Electrical stimulation and a smouldering herb called moxa can be added to acupuncture treatments to enhance the effects. Acupuncture is generally very safe. Serious side effects are very rare- less than 1 per 10,000 treatments. We only use single use, sterile, disposable needles during treatment.

What side effects can you have from acupuncture?

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Acupuncture has some common side effects which are nothing to be worried about but just be aware of such as:

  • Drowsiness occurs in some people after some treatments and if  affected you are advised not to drive
  • Minor bruising or bleeding can occur in 3% of treatments
  • Pain during treatment occurs in 1% of treatments
  • Existing symptoms may get worse in 3% of cases. Please tell your acupuncturist about this. It usually is a good sign
  • Fainting can occur in some patients and usually in the first treatment. Treatment is kept to a minimum during the first treatment to see how you respond and to avoid any reactions.

Is there anything that my therapist needs to know?

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  • If you have you have ever experienced a fit, faint of funny turn
  • If you have a pacemaker or any other electrical implants
  • If you have a bleeding disorder
  • If you are taking any blood thinners(anti-coagulants) or any other medication
  • If you have damaged heart valves and/or have any other particular risk of infection (i.e. if you have to have antibiotics to go to the dentist)
  • If you are pregnant

What about privacy?

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Your privacy and comfort are of upmost importance to us. This is why we only have private treatment rooms so you talk in confidence about your condition. We understand that what you are going through can be often difficult to talk about so we want to make you as welcome as possible. We have gowns and towels to drape areas so you feel comfortable.

What about second opinions?

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We often get other therapists to review tricky cases and we are more then happy if you would like a second opinion. Please either let your therapist or reception know. We will not be offended at all. We all learn from each other and encourage discussion when we have more complex cases.

Do you have any rehabilitation programmes run through ACC?

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Yes we are delighted to let you know that we have contracts with ACC for vocational and pain services.

Do you have text reminders for appointments?

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Yes we do. You can expect to receive your text reminder the day before your appointment

What take home material do you have for your clients?

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We understand that you are not going to remember everything we tell you and you need time to digest what we say at each appointment. Therefore we have created information hand outs on the common conditions we see at the clinic, including breathing dysfunction and pelvic floor retraining. We also have a library of exercises that we can use to write our your specific home exercise programme. We can’t remember everything we give you which is why we write notes so why should we expect you to do the same with your exercises. Of course your exercises will change over time as you get better and need to be challenged.

Is there parking available?

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At both our central locations we have multiple car parks for your convenience. Disabled car parking is available at both sites.

I have had back pain on and off for years. When I have had treatment in the past the therapist puts some heat on my back and gives it a bit of rub. It usually slowly gets better. So what makes you different from the kind of treatments I have had before?

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At Central Lakes Physio we don’t just fix the symptoms, we fix the cause. We conduct an in depth history in to your injury and a full assessment of your movements with specific tests that relate to your condition. We also look at how your body moves, how your body stores pain and retrain it so the risk of reinjury is lower. We show you how to manage it. We also look at other factors in your life that influence your recovery and possibly your risk of reinjury. We will give you the tools and it will be your choice whether to use them.

What if even with all your good work I am not getting a 100% better?

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We all know our limits as professionals and realise there are some conditions that can’t be fixed completely by physiotherapy. For those clients we will refer on to the appropriate professional, whether that be a specialist, your local GP, radiographer, pharmacist or psychologist.

Clinic Hours:
Summer: 7.30am-6pm
Mon to Fri only

Winter: 7.30am-7.30pm
Mon to Fri
Sat (Winter only) 9am-3pm