If you’re living with pain, recovering from an injury, or thinking about starting treatment, it’s completely normal to have questions. At Pro‑Active Physio Tewkesbury, our specialist clinicians take the time to explain what’s going on, why it’s happening, and how we can help you move forward with confidence.
We know that attending physio for the first time can be daunting. This guide brings together the questions we are asked most often in clinic – we are always happy to help, however many questions you may have, to help you feel confident and comfortable when attending your appointment.
How long will my appointment be and what should I wear?
Your first appointment will be an initial 45 minute assessment looking at how you move and what is driving your symptoms. Your physio will look at strength, mobility, posture, lifestyle factors, medications and your previous medical history to help with this. Follow‑up sessions last around 30-45 minutes. We offer flexible appointment times, including evenings, and there is convenient on‑site parking.
We work with most major insurers – just get in touch if you’d like to check your cover.
You don’t need a GP referral you can self refer very easily via our online booking system, and most people start to feel improvement within a few sessions. Comfortable clothing is ideal, shorts can be helpful if we need to look at your lower limb. We will always respect your dignity and will only ask you to undress as much as you are comfortable doing so and as clinically required.
We will use a combination of hands on therapy, exercise and education to help you regain confidence and control. If we can’t help we have plenty of options to refer you onto a specialist or we can offer prescription medications, ultrasound guided injections and medical botox as clinically indicated. We treat a large number of musculoskeletal and orthopaedic conditions.
Do you treat Back Pain and Sciatica?
Yes! Back pain is incredibly common and can be caused by anything from a simple muscle strain and joint stiffness to disc prolapse or severe arthritic changes. If your pain has lasted more than a few days, keeps returning, or is affecting daily life, it’s worth booking an appointment with us.
Sciatica, (that is pain that travels down the leg often with associated pins and needles or numbness), is clinically proven to respond well to physiotherapy. Physiotherapy can be just as effective if not more so than spinal surgery in many instances. All of our physiotherapists here in Tewkesbury are highly experienced in treating acute back pain with or without sciatic pain. They will focus on easing the nerve irritation, improving mobility, and restoring core strength and function. Most back pain will resolve within 2- 6 weeks when managed well with a mixture of manual therapy, exercise, normal movement and over the counter analgesia. However, sometimes our patients need a bit more help. If deemed necessary and clinically appropriate we can prescribe stronger medications here on site and or refer you for on for relevant scans, investigations or to a specialist surgeon.
Do you do injections for knee pain?
Yes! Knee pain can come from overuse activities, arthritis, ligament sprains, or irritation around the kneecap. Most knee problems are easily treated with a structured rehabilitation programme involving strengthening the main muscles such as quads and hamstrings. Some more serious knee injuries may need an MRI or further referral to an orthopaedic surgeon. For those wanting to hold off knee surgery we offer ultrasound guided and or ostenil injections for some conditions, allowing a break in the inflammatory cycle and allowing a quicker return to work or hobbies. We also see pre and post operative patients such as those undergoing ACL reconstructive surgery or knee replacements.
Do you treat rotator cuff pain?
Yes! Whether its a frozen shoulder, rotator cuff pain or recurrent dislocations, shoulder pain can be debilitating, seriously affecting your sleep, ability to work and quality of life. All our of specialist physiotherapists here can assess and treat your shoulder pain. In addition to this, our advanced practitioners Becka and Lucinda are also able to offer ultrasound guided injection therapy and or ostenil injections to help settle your symptoms down quickly. This provides a window of opportunity to then rehabilitate the muscles around your shoulder to help fix the issue for the long term. If we can’t help you we can refer you on for further imaging such as an MRI scan and or to speak to a specialist orthopaedic opinion.
I have a sports injury, can you help? Should I carry on playing?
Yes we can help! Whether you’re a Bredon Rugby player, a Beckford Tennis Player a Cheltenham hockey player or a horse rider from Overbury, injuries happen. You don’t always need to stop training or playing completely. Our specialist team will help you understand your injury, when is safe to continue and what needs adjusting. Sometimes you will need to stop but we will guide you back as safely and as quickly as possible with a structured programme tailored to your needs. We know you will be desperate to get back to your sport.
Here at Pro-active we treat a large number of competitive sports players and athletes with excellent results. We work alongside orthopaedic surgeons and professional protocols following the most up to date guidelines from the NHS and NICE guidelines.
We also work with you on injury prevention, identifying weaknesses or movement patterns that may be holding you back:
”We used Pro-active Physio for my teenage daughter when she was recovering from a gymnastics ankle injury to get back to match fitness for hockey. Carys was absolutely brilliant at making her feel at ease, assessing the range of movement, barriers to rehab and future mobility needs for her. I can’t recommend them highly enough. Not only are they expert clinicians, they are also athletes in their own right.”
Do you offer Pilates at Pro-active Tewkesbury?
Yes! Our Clinical Pilates sessions are led by Becka and Lisa, who specialise in movement, strength, and control. Pilates is suitable for beginners and the more experienced alike, and it’s particularly effective for ongoing management of chronic back pain. In a tranquil barn, right in the heart of Overbury we offer 1:1 reformer sessions for all levels at an affordable price. We also offer standard 1:1 Pilates sessions which may be a good starting point for beginners or those moving on from physiotherapy. In many cases we combine hands on physio treatment with Pilates within the same session.
You don’t need any previous experience. Just wear comfortable clothing and bring a water bottle. We provide all equipment and guide you through each exercise safely.
I’m looking for a Women’s Health Physio near Tewkesbury can you help?
Yes! Our women’s health service is delivered by Francesca Corr who supports women through pregnancy, postnatal recovery, pelvic floor issues, prolapse symptoms, and more. She is highly specialised and has extensive NHS experience. Attending a women’s health appointment can be really daunting. Follow the link below to our blog to find out how it doesn’t need to be scary at all.
Assessments are private, supportive, and tailored to your comfort. Internal examinations are offered only with full consent and when clinically appropriate. Treatment can make a significant difference to postnatal recovery, abdominal separation, and pelvic floor strength.
Do you treat hand and wrist injuries?
We treat a wide range of hand and wrist issues, including carpal tunnel symptoms, tendon problems, sprains, and post‑surgical rehabilitation. Lucinda our consultant physio can offer ultrasound guided injections particularly for conditions such as arthritis, de quervains’s tenosynovitis and trigger finger. We are unable to offer splinting on site but we can always refer onwards to a specialist as deemed clinically appropriate.
Ready to start your recovery?
If you’re unsure where to begin or want expert guidance tailored to you, our team is here to help. We combine advanced clinical skills with a friendly, supportive approach to get you moving better and feeling stronger. For any further questions follow the link below to speak to one of our team. We look forward to seeing you soon!
