This is a question that clients quie rightly ask or ponder at some point when they are thinking of booking an appointment or during the course of their physiotherapy treatment…. And it is important that both client and therapist have a clear and transparent understanding with regard to this at the outset of their treatment pathway …
However (and not to sit on the fence) the cost required to achieve a successful outcome can vary between individuals, their condition and their expectations and specific requirements… So let’s think about a few areas that might influence the number of sessions you require and therefore the cost incurred to achieve that ultimate goal …. A great outcome and a positive experience whilst under our care ….
So, firstly let’s look at the condition requiring treatment. If we look at most common musculoskeletal complaints such as spinal pain, shoulder pain and knee or ankle pain then most patients under our care experience significant reduction in pain and improved function over a timescale of 3-12 weeks and 3-6 sessions of treatment (these are average examples). You can see already there is variation and this really does depend upon factors such as the duration of symptoms prior to consultation, pain severity and nature, ability to attend treatment sessions and commitment and diligence with prescribed exercises.
Also if we compare a condition which is acute such as a new muscle injury against a long-standing condition such as an degenerative joint then we are likely to see that the acute condition has a more efficient healing potential and therefore might heal in a typically shorter timeframe. That is not to say that we can’t get rapid results with long-standing issues at all but merely an average and typical observation. In addition those who have required surgical intervention will follow specific timeframes for healing that often are set by their surgeon and then rehabilitation criteria set by their therapist. For example an ACL reconstruction (knee ligament operation) typically requires 9-12 months of rehabilitation as opposed to a sub-acromial decompression (shoulder operation) which might only require 12-16 weks management. You can see how this might effect treatmemt requirement and therefore cost.
Evidence informs us that those clients presenting for initial assessment with high severity pain are likely to experience a slower prognosis to an optimal outcome. That doesn’t mean those clients cannot achieve great outcomes more so that treatment might take slightly longer. And this might not necessarily mean that you require more treatment sessions but merely that the duration of treatment might be slightly longer.
If we then look at the relationship between the therapist administering the most effective treatment or prescribing targeting exercises (we aim to get this right every time !!) and then subsequently a client fully committing to the treatment prescribed (by attending planned treatment sessions) and being consistent with their prescribed exercise plan we see further variation which can influence cost. For example if client’s do not attend treatment sessions at the intended frequency then we might see treatment effect dissipate and if exercises are not being completed as the treatment plan outlines then they are less likely to be effective. So you can see theta treatment is a partnership between the therapist and client and the best outcomes, in the shortest timeframes at the lowest costs are achieved by both committing fully to the treatment plan. So before you engage in physiotherapy treatment you have to ask yourself an honest question – Can I make time for any prescribed exercises and/or other pertinent information provided to me by my therapist. If you can’t make this commitment, then we probably aren’t a good fit for you as you are unlikely to achieve the results we would aim for.
At the heart of our core philosophy is provided outstanding care that is cost effective for all our clients. We balance the relationship between cost and effectiveness for all patients and you can be assured of a professional approach. And we are transparent about how many sessions you might require and the costs involved. When compared to others with our expert levels of experience we are highly competitive.
Andrew is a musculoskeletal and sports physiotherapy specialist and the assessments provided are comparable to specialist such as orthopaedic surgeons and sports and exercise medicine physicians. However our costs are much lower £50 versus £225-£250 (typically 25% that of an orthopaedic surgeon) for a detailed 45 minute assessment which provides you with clear diagnostic information. GP’s (unless specifically trained) are not experts in musculoskeletal assessment and treatment and access can be difficult. Therefore why not choose to be assessed by an expert in this field, over a typically longer assessment timeframe and for a fraction of the cost?
That’s looks pretty costs effective to us !!!
I hope you have found this information useful but please also contact me at admin@active-therapy.com or 07970110526 and I’d be happy to help further
Look forward to meeting you soon and helping on your journey toward a pain free, active lifestyle
Andrew Caldwell
Consultant Physiotherapist