What happens during the initial assessment?

Your initial assessment will consist of a full physical assessment and detailed account of your past medical history and previous mobility. Physiotherapy goals will then be set. Treatment can be carried out at Rochester wellness or at your home to accommodate your needs.

What are the benefits of home visits?

Rochester provides physiotherapy assessments and treatment in your home. This is often used by patients that have difficulty coming to appointments or for those that have difficulty performing everyday tasks at home. When the physiotherapist sees the client in their home, they are able to see the difficulties in everyday activities. From this, the physiotherapist can advise adaptations to regain independence.

What is a typical physical therapy session and how often do I need to have them?

Treatment programs vary depending of the symptoms and conditions. Treatment is specific to the patient and involves stretching, strengthening, walking practice (if appropriate), postural awareness and education. There are different exercises including balance and co-ordination exercises, muscle control exercises, normal movement exercises and exercises to correct muscle imbalances. Patients can be seen once a week or daily. Physical therapists will review your program during treatment sessions to allow you to make progress. Clients will increase mobility, strength, confidence, balance and independence.

Which therapies are commonly used?

1. TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)
TENS is a form of non-invasive pain relief often used in the treatment of chronic pain. This safe and effective technique involves the use of a battery operated device and is delivered across the skin via conducting pads. Two natural processes within the body are stimulated. The tingling sensation of the TENS inhibits the amount of pain signals received by the brain. TENS also increases the levels of the body's own natural pain killing substances called endorphins and enkephalins.

2. Functional Electrical Stimulation
FES is mainly used by physiotherapists to strengthen very weak muscle groups and in some cases, such as a nerve injury, maintain muscle strength and speed up recovery of the affected nerve. Other benefits are; reduction of swelling, relief of pain and wound repair. FES is similar to TENS in the way that it is electrical energy applied via conducting pads. Excitation is caused in the nerves supplying the muscle group or area to be treated and an excitation, or contraction, is, therefore, caused in the muscle tissue.

3. Hot compress - soothes aching muscles

How do physical and occupational therapy differ?

Although both physical and occupational therapy help improve quality of life, there are differences. Physical therapy deals with pain, strength, joint range of motion, endurance, and gross motor functioning, whereas Occupational therapy deals more with fine motor skills, visual-perceptual skills, cognitive skills, and sensory-processing deficits.

Which insurance companies are accepted?

Rehabilitation services are covered by major insurance companies such as Daman, Med Net, Neuron, NAS, Al Madallah Healthcare Management, Allianz Worldwide Care Products, Arab Orient Insurance Co., Bupa, and Arab Orient Insurance Company.