Frequently Asked Questions

Physiotherapy and Osteopathy are disciplines involving hands-on treatment of injuries and the prescription of rehabilitation exercises to help people overcome their pain and dysfunction.

Physiotherapists and Osteopaths are trained to treat problems of the musculo-skeletal system – this means pain and injuries to your muscles, ligaments, joints and tendons. This includes injuries like back pain, and neck and shoulder pain; sports injuries like knee injuries, ankle and Achilles pain and tendonitis; hand and finger injuries and pain and dysfunction experienced during pregnancy such as pelvic girdle pain and sciatica. Physiotherapists also treat people after broken bones and surgery and guide people through their rehabilitation and get them back to full function.

No, you can refer yourself to see a Wandsworth Physiotherapist and Osteopathy and pay for the treatment yourself. If you intend to use medical insurance you might need a GP referral first, or some insurance companies offer triage calls. A triage call is where you speak to a physio or nurse over the phone before being referred to us.

You can do this, however to get access to NHS physiotherapy you will first need to see your GP. This could take 2-3 weeks just to get your appointment with the GP. Once the GP has referred you to NHS physiotherapy you could be waiting 2 or 3 months on the waiting list.

It is quicker and easier to book your appointment online by clicking on the “BOOK NOW” button or alternatively call our offsite reception team on 020 4586 5532. Please arrive 5 minutes prior to your appointment to fill out a consent form and past medical history form.

We aim to offer you an appointment within 24 hours of you contacting us. All you need to do is call our reception team on 020 4586 5532. You can also book online where you can select a day and a time that suits you best.

No, don’t worry, unlike the NHS physio department we are not just open Mon-Fri 9-5pm. We offer evening and weekend appointments as well as day time appointments.

We request that all children U16 are acompanied by a parent or gaurdian. Adults do not require a chaperone unless you feel you would prefer to bring one with you. We cannot provide chaperones. If you would prefer to only see a male or famale therapist please select the therapist you would prefer to see when booking online, or speak with our reception team who will assist you.

To receive an injection at Wandsworth Physiotherapy, you first need to be assessed and have undergone an ultrasound scan. If an injection is recommended your therapist will discuss this with you. Ultrasound guided injections are available at all of our clinics in Wandsworth Town, Clapham Junction and Battersea Nine Elms.

Most appointments are 30 minutes. Your treatment time may be less than 30 minutes as your therapist may need to spend time writing notes, referrals and preparing home exercises etc. These essential behind the scenes tasks are part of your appointment and may not be performed face to face.

30 minutes is sufficient time for a skilled and experienced therapist to assess, diagnose, treatment plan and treat your problem. However, if you have multiple unrelated areas to discuss (a shoulder and a knee for example) we can either book an hour and manage both of these for you, or stick to 30 minutes and just manage the most pressing concern. If you woule prefer more time you are more than welcome to book and hour.

In an initial appointment you will be asked to explain your injury, how it happened, how long you have had it and how it makes you feel. You will be asked to set some goals about what you want to achieve from your time spent with at Wandsworth Physiotherapy and Osteopathy.

Your therapist will also run through your past medical history finding out about any medical diagnoses or medicine that you take.

Next your therapist will carry out a physical examination looking at the affected area plus carry out an assessment of your posture and how you move. Once they have carried out this assessment they will put together a treatment plan for you.

In the remaining time of your initial assessment and on subsequent treatment sessions they will carry out this treatment plan and also give you home exercises to do to either resolve your problem or to give you a management strategy to keep your symptoms under control.

Yes, your Physiotherapist and Osteopath are medically and legally obliged to ask you questions about your medical history, assess your problem and design a treatment plan. Once this has been carried out you will receive treatment. However, if you are using HCML or IPRS medical insurance your first appointment is an assessment only and treatment usually begins on your next appointment.

Physiotherapy, Osteopathy and Massage are hands-on treatments where we manipulate joints and massage soft tissues – you can feel a bit stiff and sore afterwards. We do try hard to judge how severe your pain is a tailor our treatment to reflect this. We certainly don’t want to make you feel worse.

Yes, at Wandsworth Physiotherapy and Osteopathy we treat people from most insurance groups. Alternatively, you can cover the costs of the treatment yourself, and we can provide receipts for you to claim back the cost of your treatment from your insurance company or if you use a cash plan.

All our therapists treat patients covered by BUPA (80011520), Aviva, Cigna, WPA, Healix, Allianz and Exeter Friendly.

Please get authorisation from your insurer BEFORE booking an appointment with us or you will be liable for, and required to pay the full cost of your appointment. We can issue you a receipt to claim back our fee from your insurer. However we are not liable for, and will not reimburse you for any shortfall in what your insurer subsequently reimburses you.

We do not see people through the Nuffield Health network.

Yes, to practice as a Physiotherapist you must be HCPC registered. CSP registration is optional but provides public liability insurance. Similarly an Osteopath must be registered with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC).

Yes, all physios at Wandsworth Physiotherapy are trained in acupuncture. Acupuncture treatment does not cost any extra than the cost of the session.

Yes, we will design you an exercise programme and e-mail it to you. The system we use is very user friendly and has pictures, videos and descriptions of what to do – there are no stick diagrams or just showing you the exercises once, which you later forget. You can access you exercise programme on a smart phone, tablet or PC / Mac.

We also offer 1:1 clinical Pilates. We also offer small group classes, please speak to your therapist to see if you are ready for a class setting. 

Yes, at Wandsworth Physiotherapy and Osteopathy we have treated children as young as 8 years old for minor sports related injury. We require a chaperone to be present for any patient under 16 years of age.

Straight away. If you have sustained a sports injury and you decide it is not serious enough to go to A and E you can make an appointment with a physio. They can assess the problem, give you a diagnosis of what you have done and provide you with some acute injury treatment and advice. Early management of an injury leads to better outcomes.

Yes, you can book, change and cancel appointments online. However, please note we have a 24-hour cancellation policy. In order to avoid being invoiced for your treatment please give us more than 24-hours notice if you need to change or cancel an appointment.

No, we don’t want you to feel uncomfortable. We might need you to roll your trousers up to see your knee or lift your t-shirt up so we can see you back for example. However, it does make our job easier if you are prepared to undress a little.

Please bring shorts and for ladies wear a sports bra or vest top.

You can pay for treatment by debit/credit card on the phone when making your appointment. We can issue you a receipt for cash back plans. Alternatively you can book and pay online.

You will need to pay for each session in advance. We can give you receipts if you need them for a cash back scheme.

We have three locations at Wandsworth Physiotherapy and Osteopathy. Wandsworth Town: 338 Old York Road, Wandsworth, London SW18 1SS, 50m from Wandsworth Town Train Station. Wandsworth Town is one stop from Clapham Junction. Buses that pass the area include number 28 and 44, however Old York Road has also been pedestrianised so buses no longer travel down the street. There is on street parking around the Tonsleys after 4:30pm Mon-Fri and on the weekend. Clapham Junction: Inside MyHealthCare Clinic, 19 St John’s Road, SW11 1QN 50m from Clapham Junction Station. Battersea Nine Elms: Medirex Pharmacy & Opticians 28-29 Wilcox Close, London SW8 2UD, 100m from Battersea Nine Elms Tube Station.

Our philosophy is to get you better in as few sessions as possible, help you self-manage your problem and get your back to your sporting passion. Most spinal and sports injuries can be dealt with in 4 or 5 sessions.

If we are not helping at this point you will be referred to one of our consultant surgeon associates for a second opinion. Of course, if you are having physio post-surgery or post fracture, or for a chronic injury you will require more Physiotherapy or Osteopathy sessions. You can discuss your treatment plan with your therapist.

This is much harder to answer. Some people get better in just 2 or 3 sessions over the course of a week or two, others need as many as 8 or 9 treatments over the course of 2 or 3 months. Generally, the more severe the damage, the longer it will take.

For example, if you are recovering from surgery or a fracture it might take longer than 6 months before you are better. If you have just woke up with a stiff neck it might take 2 weeks. After your assessment the physio will explain how long they think it will take to get your injury better.