All  the  information  you  need  to  plan  your  first appointment with us 

What should I wear to my first appointment?

Wear something comfortable. Bring a pair of shorts if it is a lower back, hip, knee, ankle, or foot problem. Bring a normal top/vest and normal bra if it is a neck, upper back, or shoulder problem.

Why should I consult a physiotherapist or sports therapist?

Physiotherapy can be helpful for people of all ages with a wide range of health conditions, including problems affecting the: bones, joints and soft tissue – such as back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain and sports injuries. Physiotherapy can improve your physical activity while helping you to reduce further injuries.

What’s the difference between a sports therapist and a physiotherapist?

Much of this confusion lies in the fact that a sports therapist, while not a physiotherapist, will employ physiotherapy techniques to treat injuries. One key difference between the two is that sports physiotherapy is generally more accommodating to sporting environments and those that are physically active. While a physiotherapist will be able to treat and rehabilitate the same injuries that a sports therapist can treat, sports therapists may be a better option for those who want to return to exercise and strenuous physical activity as soon as possible. Physiotherapists tend to have an overarching understanding of the body and its illnesses. They can treat a broad range of patients with complex issues. 

Do you treat patients covered by Medical Insurance?

Yes, depending on which staff member you see we are a covered provider for most medical and health insurance companies.

Can I claim the cost of my session on my health insurance?

We work with some insurance companies that allow sports massage, sports therapy and physiotherapy. Normally you would pay for the session upfront and then share the invoice/receipt with your insurance to claim back your money through them afterwards. You would need to discuss this with your provider before your initial appointment to make sure the sessions are covered before committing and being disappointed if not.

When should I seek help?

If you suffer from pain, we would advise seeking a consultation if pain new aches and pains are limiting daily function, sport or exercise. Seeking GP advice is normally not specific to regaining function and painkillers prescribed with off-the-shelf stretches. Painkillers often just mask the pain and do not promote full recovery towards your goals.

We are trained professionals who help injured patients get back to the highest range of movement and functions. Injuries also heal a lot quicker if you work with a physiotherapist, with the added benefit of often having less pain and more range of movement than before you had your injury. If you feel it is only a minor injury and you are still in pain 48 hours after the injury, make an appointment with one of our team. If you feel the injury is more serious make an appointment immediately. If for an extended period, you have been living with chronic pain and or limited mobility and range of movement make an appointment with a member of our team and we can help start your journey back to full recovery..  

What does treatment involve?

Our therapists use different treatment methods to deal with a wide range of injuries, aches and pains. 

Depending on the nature and severity of your injury, you may require:

  • mobilisation of joints
  • Electrotherapy (shockwave, Ultrasound)
  • Acupuncture
  • Exercise therapy
  • Stretching and/or strengthening
  • Core stability training
  • Sports massage
  • Heat or cold therapy
  • Patient education, home exercises
  • Biomechanical analysis

What should I expect in my appointment?

Expect to share with us a little bit about yourself (not the deep dark personal stuff) but enough that we get to know you and why you’re here with us. We want to know your training and exercise routines, hobbies, your social, work and home life. Be prepared to laugh a bit at some of our poorly drawn stick men, share your stress and anxieties and together we can formulate a plan moving forward together.

How long are the appointments?

Appointments are between 30 minutes and 2 hours long (depending on what service you require/would like). Typically an injury/pain assessment will be 60 minutes – this is enough time for us to get to the nitty gritty of your pain/injury, assess thoroughly and provide hands-on care if needed. Similarly, movement and/or exercise assessments will take around 60 minutes to complete following the same agenda as the injury assessment session. Sports therapy, sports massages and other types of therapy will range from 30-60 minutes depending on the areas wanted covered. This can be for general recovery or specific areas that are troublesome in your training/competition.

Will my massage or physiotherapy session hurt?

This is difficult one to answer. It will not hurt in the way of your injury; but you should expect to feel certain discomfort throughout your recovery process. None of these treatments are hurtful or harmful. The sensations are typically temporary as we aim to load injured tissue or receive tension and tightness. This will improve over time as the treatment is repeated.

How long will it take until I get better?

It is very individualised. It depends on your motivation, willingness, and effort to commit to your rehab/physio exercise and modifying aggravating factors. There are certain timelines for injuries to recover but those are just general guidelines. It may take patients faster or slower than the textbook suggests. This also doesn’t take into account the stress, sleep, eating and other lifestyle choices.

What caused my injury?

Injuries happen because the tissue is not prepared for the stress that it encounters. It may be something like a single incident; like falling off a step or landing from a fall. Injuries can happen over a prolonged period; like altered posture from underworked/overworked muscle groups or starting a new exercise plan after a period of less activity.

What can I still do while I’m hurt?

One of the main goals here at Made To Move is to keep you doing the things that you enjoy doing, the best that we can. It may not be the way that you originally did it! With some guidance and modifications; we can help you to still be involved in the things that you love. Remember: that the modifications and the restrictions are only for a short period! We want you to continue to enjoy the things that you like doing for both the mental and physical benefits

What should I avoid while I’m recovering?

You should avoid things that cause you a lot of pain! Things that make your pain scream and unbearable are things that are not helping your recovery. Your therapist will go over this with you in your first session and help create a plan that allows you to stay active but does not worsen your symptoms.

Can I contact you if I have questions?

100%. We want you to feel that you have all the answers to your questions. This helps progress your care. We have seen it all too often when patients have questions about their exercises or certain tasks and they don’t do them until the next time they see us. This can then delay the recovery. Contacting us also shows that you are engaged with your treatment plan.

How do I integrate my exercises into daily life?

The first part is to ensure that your exercise program does not take up a large chunk of your day. It should only take you between 5- 30 minutes (depending on your injury, rehab plan and goals). The other recommendation is to make it part of your daily routine. Pair it with something that you are already doing. If your morning routine is the same, wake up just a little bit earlier to squeeze it in between brushing your teeth and your morning coffee or directly after your shower. It’s a lot easier to do it with things you already have a routine established versus starting a new one.

Do I need physiotherapy?

Yes, you do… if you are in pain or restricted in your abilities to be active! It is a lot easier to treat a simple ankle strain or sore tendon early than to treat a chronic dysfunction due to compensation patterns. If the injury is left too long; our body starts to compensate and adjust for the injury. 

Is a sports massage the same as a normal massage?

We are not the same as ‘normal’ massage. There might be some massage techniques that we use in sessions that are similar to other massage types. However, the general practice is to receive tension, soreness and restrictions which often meet more focused and deeper work. This may mean 1-2 limbs might be worked on…coupled up with specific exercises/stretches to support your recovery.

Do I need a referral?

No, you do not. You can self-refer to us. Your health insurance company may require you to submit a doctor’s note alongside a personalised invoice (we provide this after your initial treatment so you can claim this back.

What injuries do you treat?

We treat from the tip of your head down to your big toe and everything in between. Whiplash, rotator cuff tears, tendonitis, tennis elbow, back pain, pulled or torn muscles, sciatica, ACL repairs, Meniscus tears, shoulder pain, and plantar fasciitis just to name a few.

Can you provide me with a diagnosis?

Yes. Some of our staff are trained extensively in the musculoskeletal system. Their knowledge and expertise can come up with a diagnosis based on both your verbal history as well as your physical presentation. This is all without the use of diagnostic imaging i.e. ultrasounds, x-rays or MRI. However, these may provide more light on your condition but it’s not mandatory and may not be required!

What types of treatments will I receive?

Treatments vary from patient to patient. they often will include education, home exercise programming, exercise planning, hands-on care (massage, stretching, strengthening), and occasionally some sort of therapeutic modality.

What should I do after my physiotherapy?

You return to living your best life. Upon discharge, your therapist will talk to you about a continued home or gym exercise program and potential management strategies to help reduce the risk of your injury from coming back (and others from arising!).

What happens if my pain returns?

You can initiate the management strategies that were given on your last visit. If those management strategies don’t work. You can book directly here: www.made2move.co.uk/book-now and we can reassess your injury. It may be something completely different and new OR that the tissues were just not prepared for the task that you asked them to complete and they need to become stronger.

How do I start?

Give us a call, at 07562785191 or email us at info@madetomovesheffield.co.uk or book here: www.made2move.co.uk/book-now

Is Physio right for my problem?
If you’re in pain with or have any of the following problems then you can be confident that physio is right for you:

(Please note these are the symptoms and the problems that you might be experiencing, the injury as you see it and feel it, not the specific name or diagnosis of the injury.

  • Back pain and stiffness
  • Neck pain and stiffness
  • Headaches
  • Shoulder muscle tension and tightness
  • Pain down your arm which stops you from going to sleep at night and OR hinders
  • daily activities
  • Pain and OR pins and needles in your leg
  • Sports Injury
  • Hip and groin pain
  • Ankle or Knee injury
  • Pain in hamstring, calf, groin muscles or the Achilles tendon
  • Pain underneath your foot
  • Pain in your lower back when you sit or stand for even short periods
  • Pain and stiffness in your back when you put your socks and shoes on

This is a list of the more common problems that clients ask us to help with. If your problem isn’t on the list or you’re still unsure if physio is right for you, feel free to call and speak to us. If we don’t think we can help we will point you in the right direction of who can.

Is Physio Painful?

It’s true that physio is a very physical experience and as such treatments can often be a little uncomfortable at times, but we will always aim to be as gentle as possible and cause the minimal discomfort we possibly can to get your problem solved as fast as we can. Before we do any techniques we will tell you exactly what is about to happen whether or not it is likely to hurt and for how long.

More often than not the pain stops as soon as we do, so you only have to tell us to stop and we will. Pain is a side of physio that is often unavoidable. The discomfort usually reduces as treatment progresses and we always advise you on things like ice and heat to help reduce the soreness that might be caused by the treatment.

What Injuries Do Physios See?

Here is a list of the common injuries we see:

Back

  • Sciatica
  • Sacro-Iliac joint (SIJ) pain and stiffness
  • Spinal Stenosis
  • Weak core stability
  • Disc prolapse/herniated disc/slipped disc/bulging disc

Neck/Shoulder

  • Muscle spasms and tension
  • Rotator Cuff tear
  • Impingement Syndrome
  • Neck Spondylosis (also known as degeneration/wear and tear /arthritis)
  • Disc prolapse/herniated disc/slipped disc/bulging disc
  • Migraines

Ankle and Knee

  • Ankle Sprain
  • Achilles tendon problems
  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Knee Cartilage
  • Knee ligament injuries – including Cruciate ligament
  • Patello-femoral joint pain
  • Post-surgery knee rehab
  • Sports injury/Muscles

Other

  • Calf strain
  • Hamstring strain
  • Quadricep strain
  • Shoulder muscle tear
  • Achilles tendonitis
  • Groin strain
  • Whiplash Injury

How Will Physio Help My Injury?

Physiotherapy is as much about the physical as it is the ability to give you peace of mind. Your physio will aim to reduce your pain or get you active again as fast as possible. That’s the physical benefit of physio but we will also speak to you in a way that can be understood to give you a clear understanding of your injury from what it is, to how it happened and importantly how to prevent it from happening in the future.

If you can find your injury or your problem from the list above, we would be confident that physio will help.

Are You Registered With Health Insurance Companies?

Yes, We are linked to some health insurance companies such as Westfield Health and other health plans. You can claim on Westfield Health if you have Alliterative Therapies and our governing body (Society of Sports Therapists is listed).

How Often Will I Need Treatment?

This is always dependent upon the nature of your injury. We aim to return you to full fitness as quickly and as safely as possible. Your therapist will be in a better position to answer this question following your initial assessment.

What does an Initial Assessment entail?

At your first visit, a full assessment of your physical ailment will be undertaken. This will generally include:

  • A detailed history of your health and injury.
  • A physical examination.Functional limitations – activities you are struggling with.
  • Gait assessment, if applicable.
  • Pain and movement patter
  • Muscle strength.
  • Joint range of motion.
  • Nerve tests.

At Made To Move we aim to save time in the initial assessment visit to provide you with some form of treatment, be it hands-on techniques, exercise/rehabilitation instruction or education on the “do’s and don’ts” for symptom management.

What does my treatment involve?

A typical treatment programme ranges from days to weeks in length or could be longer (depending on your diagnosis), depending on the timeline of the issue and the nature of the treatment programme. Your therapist will determine how often you should be seen for treatment and discuss this with you.

Treatment techniques which may be used include:

• manual therapy
• exercise demonstration and home program development
• acupuncture
• return to work/ sport/ activity planning
• gait analysis and facilitation for optimal movement patterns
• balance and co-ordination re-training
• electro-acupuncture and other electrical modalities
• education – why did this happen and reduce the chances of it happening again.

At Made To Move we make it a priority to ensure our patients understand the root cause of their symptoms or disability, and we are happy to answer whatever questions you may have. Education is critical to ensure our clients have the tools to avoid future injury, reduce chances of re-occurrence, and promote self-management over the long term.

What specific techniques or modalities will be used during treatment?

Our therapists will often use a variety of techniques to get the best results as timely as possible. Often we will use a combination of hands-on techniques with ideas of how to modify painful activities and exercise prescription. We endeavour to give you the right exercises – giving you the biggest bang for your buck, rather than loads of exercises leaving you with no time for anything else.

How many sessions will I need?

Our therapists will be able to give you an idea of how many times you will need to be seen after your first visit. Once we have diagnosed your issue we will be able to give you a timeline to recovery – this can be longer than first expected for more complex issues or more chronic conditions.

How will my progress be measured?

On your initial visit, your therapist will determine why you have come for physiotherapy and what you wish to gain from coming to us. Your progress will be measured from this point in terms of maybe pain, functional ability or return to all the activities you wish to do.

What can I do at home to support my treatment?

Our therapists will guide you on things to do to help and things to avoid that might make recovery longer. You will be given a rehabilitation programme to help speed up your recovery.

Are there any activities or exercises I should avoid during my treatment?

Your therapist will discuss this with you as part of your treatment planning. Our main focus is to keep you moving and participating in your sports, exercise or activities – we will first aim to reduce intensity, frequency to reduce pain but keep you focused and engaged. If all goes well we slowly increase your intensity and frequency back to normal levels of participation.

How will my treatment plan be adjusted as I progress?

At the start of every session, your therapist will ask relevant questions to keep track on your progress. As you improve your therapist will adapt your programme via exercises and stretches to ensure your recovery continues at the quickest rate.

Are there any potential side effects or risks associated with my treatment?

Your therapist will explain any potential side effects of treatment/exercises if there are any. Some patients may experience a degree of soreness post-treatment, which is very normal. Our therapists may ask you to move in ways that you may have found painful previously – this will help us with our assessment and will ultimately speed up your recovery. This ‘treatment soreness’ tends to only last a day or so and most patients do not experience it at all. If you notice aches and pains out of this please do not hesitate to contact us or seek further medical advice.

What should I do if my symptoms worsen or if I have any concerns about my treatment?

Our therapists will explain what the natural progression of your condition should be. Sometimes a patient can get sorer – this can occur for many reasons – doing exercises too much, too vigorously, incorrectly or sometimes they may need some advice from their GP/ pharmacist regarding pain medication. Our therapists will answer any questions/ concerns where necessary.

Can physiotherapy help to prevent future injuries or flare-ups of my condition?

Unfortunately we cannot always prevent injuries and flare-ups from arising. However, working with out therapists – you will gain injury risk reduction strategies to reduce the risks of re-occurrence or flare-ups.

Are there any lifestyle or behaviour modifications that I should make to support my treatment?

During your sessions, our therapists will discuss issues that might be contributing to your pain or inability to perform certain activities. We will then support you with problem-solving ideas as required to perform different tasks/activities.

Are there any other treatment options that I should consider in addition to physiotherapy?

Depending on your diagnosis and treatment plan your therapist might suggest undertaking some further exercise such as pilates, yoga, strength training, cardio-vascular exercise, non-weight-bearing activities such as cycling/swimming and more. Your therapist will guide and advise you on the best additional exercise to support your rehabilitation programme and improve your recovery time.

How can sports physiotherapy help me to improve my physical performance?

During your assessment, your therapist will discuss any limitations physically to your performance. There are often solutions to areas of stiffness/ tightness and pain that once addressed by your therapist that will ultimately lead to improved training and performance.

How will my sports physiotherapy treatment be tailored to my specific sport or physical activity?

Our therapists all partake in sports at various levels from weightlifting, cycling, running, sprinting, hiking and more so they have a good handle on most athletic activities. However, we have also treated wider sports such as rugby, pole dancing, climbing  and everything in between. If we do not know the intricacies of a particular position in a particular sport then we ask the experts (usually the patient in front of us) and from there we can initiate a bespoke treatment and rehabilitation programme for the patient.

How can I integrate sports physiotherapy into my training regimen?

Our therapists will explain how often this work will need to be undertaken and often it can even become part of a warm-up routine or a circuit that you might undertake when taking a day off from, for example, running or being in the gym.

Can I bring someone to the appointment?

Yes, feel free. Quite often it’s good to have another set of senses to tell the history accurately and to listen to the therapist’s advice and understand the intricacies of the injury, diagnosis and plan for recovery.