What is Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is a health care profession concerned with human function and movement and maximizing potential. It is the fourth largest healthcare profession in the world and is a clinical specialty that addresses problems with movement, dysfunction and pain. These can arise from musculoskeletal, neurological,respiratory and chronic disability conditions or from mental illness and intellectual impairment.

How can Physiotherapy help you?
Physiotherapists evaluate your condition and will always aim to identify the source of your discomfort or dysfunction. Once evaluated, the therapist can develop a treatment program that will usually involve some form of manual therapy and exercise, as well as other modalities such as ultrasound, interferential etc.
You will also receive instruction in a home exercise program as well as education on body mechanics and posture in order to prevent the reoccurrence of your original injury.

How Physiotherapy works
The aim of Physiotherapy is to restore proper functioning to the body. As well as treating a specific injury or illness, the physiotherapist will also consider ways to improve your general well-being and quality of life. In this way, it is similar to some complementary therapies and is often used alongside other therapies such as Acupuncture or Pilates. Physiotherapists take a holistic approach (focusing on the individual factors) to an injury or disease. For example, back pain can be caused by a number of factors including posture, diet, exercise and work. Patient education is an important part of Physiotherapy. As well as aiming to improve your strength and mobility, physiotherapy also teaches you how to manage your condition more effectively,such as improving your lifestyle by eating more healthily and exercising regularly.

Physiotherapy Treatments
Physiotherapy provides a range of treatments that help people to regain the use of their body after injury or illness. It is also used to slow the progression of long term conditions and for rehabilitation after surgery. It is commonly used in:
Care of the elderly
It is used to treat conditions that are particularly common in old age, such as Athritis, Oteoporosis, hip and joint replacements.
It is also an important part of general care for elderly people by assisting them stay active and independent, reduce pain and improve fitness.

Neurological
Physiotherapists can be used to help people who have conditions that affect the nervous system, such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Stroke and Cerebral Palsy. It can assist people with paralysis, problems with balance, muscle pain and difficulty with mobility.

Orthopaedic
Physiotherapy is often used to treat conditions and injuries that affect bones, joints and muscles, such as sports injuries and Arthritis. It is also used to assist rehabilitation after orthopedic surgery. Strength training, heat packs (applying a controlled amount of heat to affected joints) and electrical stimulation (using small electrical impulses to stimulate nerves and muscles) are sometimes used alongside physiotherapy for orthopedic problems.

The Physiotherapist
Sunder Palan, BPT, MISCP, graduated as a Bachelor in Physiotherapy in the year 2000 in India. He has ten years of working experience in the field of Physiotherapy. He is more specialised in musculoskeletal and sports injuries. He also has experience in treating neurological conditions. He is a member of the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists. Since qualifying as a Chartered Physiotherapist, Sunder has worked for five years in a busy Private Practice in Ireland specialising in Musculoskeletal Dysfunction. The varied and intensive nature of his caseload meant that he had the opportunity to build up significant experience in the treatment and functional rehabilitation of many musculoskeletal problems, including acute/recurrent sports injuries, occupational injuries and chronic neck/low back pain. Sunder also worked with various GAA football and rugby clubs, finding the treatment and prevention of sports injuries.

Home Visits
Physiotherapy can provide physiotherapy assessments and treatment in the comfort of your own home, residential or nursing home. This service is often utilised by patients that have difficulty attending clinic appointments or for those that are experiencing difficulty performing everyday tasks at home.

People that benefit from a home assessment and treatment are those that have difficulty getting in and out of bed, in and out of chairs, up and down stairs, lack confidence to walk outside on their own.

We are covered by all Health Insurance Companies Recover costs of treatment from your medical insurance
Chartered Physiotherapy is eligible for refund with VHI, Quinn Medical, Hibernian Health (Vivas) and the Hospital Saturday Fund among others (however we do advise you check your policy in case of additional terms and conditions). Reimbursement rates vary depending on your policy but as much as €40 per treatment can be reclaimed.

Tax Relief
Tax Relief is available on all Chartered Physiotherapy costs. So even if your medical insurance only allows you to reclaim the base level of €25 per treatment, you should only end up paying €11.60 per treatment.

Conditions We Treat

Orthopedic Conditions

  • Back pain and neck pain
  • Frozen shoulders
  • Rotator Cuff injuries
  • Joint stiffness
  • Whiplash injury
  • Trapped nerve – (e.g.) Sciatica
  • Arthritis – (e.g.) Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Muscle Strains and Tears – (e.g.) Hamstrings
  • Ligament Sprains and Tears – (e.g.) Knee/ankle
  • Repetitive strain injuries / work related injuries
  • Post surgical conditions – (e.g.) Ligament
  • reconstructions, joint replacements, tendon repairs.
  • Poor posture/foot problems/Orthotics,

Neurological Conditions

  • Stroke
  • Spinal Cord Injuries
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Parkinson’s Disease

Sports injuries