Physiotherapy

MSK physiotherapists provide outpatient appointments in the hospital to assess and treat conditions and injuries that involve muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, joints, nerves and other structures of the body.

The aim of MSK physiotherapy is to:

• Help improve movement and strength to aid recovery
• Return to normal activities
• Understand and manage long-term conditions
• Understand how pain and fatigue impacts on health and wellbeing
• Assist with orthopaedic virtual clinics
• Assist with fracture clinics
• Provides a Women's Health and Pelvic Floor services

Together, you and your physiotherapist will create GOALS that you want to achieve. These goals will then be supported by the physiotherapist who can provide individualised exercise plans, education on conditions, advice on managing conditions, and support in order to maximise potential and recovery.

You can access physiotherapy the following ways:

• Via referral from GP / ANP / First Contact Physiotherapists and Allied Health Professionals
• Completing a Physiotherapy referral form which can be completed online or written and posted
  • Adult Physiotherapy Self-Referral Form
  • Children & Young People's Self Referral Form

Once we have received your referral, it is uploaded to our system and then reviewed for clinical priority and need. If further information is required, you, or the referrer, may be contacted for this.

If there is a wait for the service, you will receive a letter letting you know the approximate wait time.

When there is availability in the service, you will be sent an opt-in letter which needs responded to within 10 days. If no contact is made with the service, it is assumed physiotherapy input is no longer required and you will be removed, and discharged, from the waiting list. A letter confirming discharge will be sent to update your GP, or other health professional, who referred you if appropriate.

You will receive a letter with the time, date and name of your physiotherapist. It is usual for appointments to be face-to-face, however if this is not suitable for you, it can be arranged for a virtual assessment by computer, called Near Me, or by Telephone Call (please ensure we have your up-to-date contact number for this).

Please contact us by email or telephone leaving your name, date of birth, contact number and reason for contact and we will respond to you as soon as possible.

• Telephone: 01595 743323 and leave a voicemail
• Email: shet.physiotherapy@nhs.scot

If you do not attend your appointment, and no contact is made within 7 days, you will be discharged from the service and a letter will be sent to the GP and / or health care professional who referred you to advise them about this.

• Bring a list of your medications if you struggle to remember them.
• Wear loose / baggy clothing, or bring suitable clothing to change into, such as shorts, vest top, sports bra, as the physiotherapist may have to see the problematic area to assess movement and the strength of the joints.
• Very importantly, have a think about what you would like to gain from physiotherapy and what you would like to be able to achieve following this - remember to make this achievable, realistic and manageable.

Your physiotherapist will take a detailed account of your condition along with information related to your past medical history, medication, general health and social history.

A physical assessment may be carried out depending on your condition and requirement.  Following on from this, your physiotherapist will provide a suitable home exercise plan and education / advice where suitable.

It is important to share the goals you have thought about with your physiotherapist so that it can be discussed what is achievable and that both you and your physiotherapist know what the aim and objectives of treatment is for.

All exercise plans, if not provided at the time of the appointment, can be emailed to you as well as posted - please ensure that your physiotherapist has your contact email address if this.

Your physiotherapist will discuss follow up appointments with you and provide you with a time frame for this. You will either receive your letter at that point, or it will be posted out to you.

If you do not receive a follow up letter within the time scale provided by the physiotherapist, please contact the department and a follow up will be arranged.

If this occurs, please return to the initial exercises provided by the physiotherapist to see if that helps. If the symptoms do not resolve you will need to either self-refer back into the department, or GP can refer also.

Alternatively you can follow the self-management / self-help links provided below:

• Versus Arthritis | A future free from arthritis
• Muscle, bone and joint injuries / problems | NHS inform