Contact us
0300 123 3444
Who are we
The community physiotherapy service consists of three physiotherapists and two assistant physiotherapists. We work closely with other agencies, occupational therapists, community and specialist nurses and GPs to ensure the best possible support and advice is available to you.
What we do
Our service provides specialist assessment and advice to you and to carers dealing with a wide range of conditions such as mobility issues, musculoskeletal and orthopaedic problems, osteoarthritis, long term neurological conditions, Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. We are a team of physiotherapists who visit you in your own home, residential or nursing home, when circumstances show that you cannot attend physiotherapy at your local hospital (or when treating you in your own home environmental is required)
Some of the problems we can help with include:
- mobility
- coming to terms with disability
- reduced mobility due to recent joint replacement and/or fracture
- reduced mobility due to recent acute illness
- reduced mobility due to progression of a known diagnosis, for example, Parkinson’s disease, fibromyalgia, Chronic fatigue syndrome, and other long term conditions
- reduced balance
- decreased ability to cope with current walking aid
- provision of a new walking aid
- musculoskeletal and orthopaedic problems.
Will it work for me?
Participating regular exercise will help with improving and maintaining strength and range of movement.
We will cover exercises that strengthen your upper limbs, core and lower limbs.
This will facilitate good mobility levels and help you to carry out your daily activities.
We have gym equipment, for example, static bikes, treadmill and a cross trainer that can be used throughout the class, if appropriate.
What will I need to be able to do?
- Be able to follow instructions.
- Be able to understand English.
- Be able to sit comfortably to complete exercises.
Please inform your instructor if you:
- Are currently pregnant.
- Have blood pressure, breathing or heart problems.
- Have had any recent surgery.
- Have osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis or any other long term condition.
- Have learning disabilities or any additional requirements.
What should I wear?
Please wear loose comfortable clothing so that you are able to stretch and move to perform the exercises. Appropriate foot wear is required if using gym equipment.
After the class
It is very normal to feel muscle aches and pains after exercise, especially if you have not performed this form of exercise before. This will reduce as you become more familiar with the exercises.
The seated exercise classes will be run by members of our clinical team at MCH House every Monday at 11.15am and will be run for approximately one hour.
Wheel chair users are welcome to complete exercises in their chairs or can transfer onto static chair if appropriate.
The cost of the class is £5 per session; you can pay by cash or cheque.
Contact
0300 123 3444
medway.physiotherapy@nhs.net
What to expect
Hydrotherapy is a form of exercise in water. The water in our pool is warmer than a normal swimming pool at 35°C. The pool is four feet deep at its deepest point.
Your child will need to shower or wash before and after the session.
What to bring
Please bring:
- swimming costume and towel
- swim nappy if your child is incontinent or not yet toilet trained
- waterproof dressing for gastrostomy tubes, available from your GP
- a drink or snack for your child after the session
- flotation aids or goggles if required
- any medication your child may need, such as an inhaler or seizure medication.
Who will be in the pool?
There will be other children and therapists in the pool at the same time as your child.
One adult must accompany each child in the pool.
There is space for one adult per child in the pool area if needed. If the pool area is busy, other family members may be asked to wait in the waiting room.
Bringing siblings
For safety reasons, siblings should only be in the pool area if they are sitting safely in a buggy, on a lap or on a chair away from the poolside.
Parents and carers are responsible for supervising siblings at all times. If this is not possible, please arrange alternative childcare.
Where is the hydrotherapy pool?
The hydrotherapy pool is located within Strood Sports Centre. Go through the main swimming pool changing room and turn left.
Strood Sports Centre
Watling Street
Strood
ME2 3JQ
What happens next?
Please:
- contact the Children’s Therapy Team to book your place by the date requested in your invitation letter
- complete the safety questionnaire before your session, otherwise you will not be able to use the pool.
Before your appointment
Please note:
- arrive 10 to 15 minutes before your appointment to allow time to change
- parking is available at Strood Sports Centre, but when it is busy some spaces are a short walk up a slight slope, so please allow extra time to park and reach the pool area.
If you cannot attend
If you are unable to attend your appointment, please call 0300 123 3444 as soon as possible to let us know.
Pilates is a mat-based exercise programme that focuses on retraining the correct activation of the deep abdominal, back and pelvic floor muscles.
Research shows that retraining these muscles can help reduce the recurrence of low back pain.
Is pilates right for me?
Pilates is suitable for children and young people of all ages and fitness levels.
It can help improve strength and overall wellbeing.
The classes are suitable for:
- complete beginners
- those who already have experience of Pilates.
What do I need to be able to do?
To take part in the class, you should be able to:
- get on and off the floor
- lie flat on a mat
- understand and follow instructions
- take part in a group session.
What should I wear?
Please wear loose, comfortable clothing that allows you to move and stretch easily during the exercises.
After the class
It is normal to experience some muscle aches and pains after exercise, especially if you have not done this type of exercise before.
This should improve as you become stronger and more familiar with the exercises.
These classes complement any NHS care you may already be receiving and can help improve your general health and fitness.
Our aim
Our service aims to assess you and agree goals around daily living skills and physical recovery, in order to maximise your independence in the community. We use a patient-centered approach to assess, rehabilitate and empower you to improve your level of independence and manage long-term conditions. We also provide advice and education to you, your carers and family members.
What will happen during the first visit?
The physiotherapist will visit you at home. As part of your assessment the physiotherapist will:
- record personal details including your relevant medical history and any medication that you take
- discuss details about the problems you are experiencing
- complete an assessment of the difficulties you are experiencing
- discuss goals and make a treatment plan.
Please note that this may include an examination of the area that is causing you a problem and you will therefore need to be dressed appropriately. You are welcome to have a friend, relative or carer with you during your assessment and treatment sessions.
Follow up visits
Depending on the problems identified, follow up treatment sessions may be carried out by the physiotherapist or a therapy assistant. Patients will usually be given a treatment programme that they are encouraged to complete themselves in between visits. This programme should help to speed up your recovery.
How to access the service
Patients referred to our service must be aged 18 or over, who:
- are housebound
- are registered with a GP in the Medway area.
If you feel that you would benefit from an assessment by the community physiotherapy service then you can ask your GP or other healthcare professional to make a referral to our service. After receiving the referral someone from our team may contact you by telephone to discuss your problems in more detail. You will then be offered an appointment for the physiotherapist to assess you at home.
We use physical approaches to promote, maintain and restore physical, psychological and social well-being, taking account of variations in health status. Community physiotherapy educates, supports, and cares for patients with a wide range of conditions, aiming to help them maximise their functional ability to perform everyday tasks and be as independent as possible within their home environment. We work closely with other colleagues from health, social care and the voluntary sector on delivering patient focused care
We provide assessment and treatment planning, as well as a range of support services. This support can take various forms, for example, we will provide patients with exercise programmes or put them in touch with relevant services and activities which might help them.