Musculoskeletal Outpatients
Who we are
The Musculoskeletal Outpatients Physiotherapy Team is based at both Royal Preston Hospital and Chorley & South Ribble Hospital. The team is made up of Specialist physiotherapists and therapy assistants who are all passionate about offering a high quality service to their patients.
Our aim for you:
As an MSK Physiotherapist I will see my patients at a convenient time for them, in a safe and welcoming environment. I will be a caring and knowledgeable Physiotherapist. I will listen empathetically to their needs, treat them with dignity and provide high quality, effective treatment and information, to help them achieve their personal goals.
Our area of speciality is in the assessment and management of musculoskeletal conditions (conditions which affect the bones, joints, muscles, ligaments in your body). We receive referrals mainly from our colleagues in orthopaedics, the urgent care and emergency departments, and neurosurgery. We do not accept GP referrals.
- What we do
What we do
As we are an acute hospital, the majority of our patients are recovering from a traumatic injury or surgery. Our role is to support your recovery, enabling the return of normal movement and function in order that you can return to work and doing the usual activities which you enjoy.
All treatment is individualised to each patient, and so we will work with you from the beginning to establish your realistic goals for treatment.
We encourage patients to take an active role in their own recovery and we will develop a self-management plan for you to incorporate at home. This will usually include some simple exercises to enable you to restore normal movement, strength, balance and function.
We also take a holistic approach to treatment, incorporating the social, cultural and psychological factors which may have an impact on your recovery.
Treatments
Physiotherapists use their expertise, the best available and up to date evidence and clinical experience to inform their decisions regarding individual treatment for each patient. Some of the treatment options which may be offered for your individual needs include:
Exercise therapy:
Including individualised home based exercises to improve your muscle strength, increase your joint range of movement, and improve balance and general fitness.
Gym Classes:
We have a large gym space at both sites which allows for group classes. Each gym-based class is tailored towards a specific group (see further details below related to each class). This allows you to use some of the more specialised gym equipment that you may not have at home in order to progress your rehabilitation. Classes are run by physiotherapists and therapy assistants in groups of up to eight.
Your physiotherapist will determine if a gym class is suitable for you and discuss this option with you. Your ongoing rehab needs can also be offered on a 1:1 basis if the group class is not suitable.
Your physiotherapist will complete a referral to the gym class. This will involve an assessment and health screen, which may include taking your blood pressure. You will then be advised on the day and time of your class before booking the appointment.
You will need to wear suitable clothing to exercise comfortably and safely, such as shorts / leggings, t-shirt and trainers. You may also wish to bring a bottle of water with you.
On your first class you may be asked to complete a questionnaire relating to your condition, and we will discuss your goals with you.
Please allow up to an hour for your class.
Click here to see more information about our gym classes.
Hydrotherapy:
Hydrotherapy is a water based exercise treatment that takes place in our indoor pool.
Detailed information about hydrotherapy can be found in our patient infromation leaflet.
Manual Therapy:
This can include soft tissue and joint mobilisation which may be used in addition to your exercise programme if required.
Acupuncture:
Acupuncture may be offered to help manage your pain. Treatment involves inserting fine needles into specific points just under the surface of the skin.
Detailed information about acupuncture can be found in our patient information leaflet.
Electrotherapy
Electrotherapy uses electrical energy to promote tissue healing.
Therapeutic Taping
Taping can be used to support muscle function, joint position, and stability. Detailed information can be found in our patient information leaflet.
- Meet the team
The Musculoskeletal Outpatient Therapy Team
Reception TeamThe reception team are responsible for arranging your appointment, welcoming you into the department when you arrive, and assisting with any queries you may have if you need to contact us in-between your appointments.
Physiotherapy TeamYour physiotherapist is responsible for your overall care. You will meet your physiotherapist at your first appointment. They will use this time to find out more about you, ask you some questions about your condition and how it is affecting you, and develop a joint managemet plan. They may also complete a physical examination. This may include feeling the area affected, and assessing your joint movement, muscle strength, and balance.
Therapy Assistant
Our therapy assistants ensure that we have everything we need to support the smooth running of our service. They can also support you in your rehabilitation through supervised exercise sessions as advised by your physiotherapist.
- About your appointments
Your Appointments
The majority of our appointments are face to face though we do offer video and telephone consultations to many of our patients if this is your preference.
How it is arranged
Once we have received your referral, a member of the physiotherapy team will decide how soon you need to be seen and by whom. They will then pass this information to the administration team to offer you an appointment. You will receive a text message with your appointment via the Patient Portal digital letter invitation. You will need to log in to the Patient Portal to accept your appointment. If you are not able to receive your appointment via this method, a letter will be sent to your address with the appointment information. You will also receive a text message reminding you of your appointment.
What to do if you cannot make an appointment
If you need to change an appointment, please use PEP+ portal. The PEP+ portal is the appointment link that you received via a NHS text message on your phone.
Alternatively, please contact us on the telephone numbers or email address:
Royal Preston Hospital
Lines are open Monday – Friday (8.30-16.00) – 01772 522876
Chorley & South Ribble Hospital
Lines are open Monday – Friday (8.00-16.00) – 01257 245757
Email: Coretherapies@LTHTR.nhs.uk
If you cannot make your appointment, please contact us to let us know as soon as possible so that we can rearrange your appointment. Failure to attend your appointment may lead to you being discharged from the service.
How long it will take
Your first appointment is usually between 30 minutes to one hour. Subsequent appointments are usually 20 minutes. As we run a very busy clinic, it is important that you attend your appointment on time. If you are late, you may be asked to rearrange your appointment.
What it will involve
We will use this time to find out a little more about you, ask you some questions about your condition and how it is affecting you, and develop a joint management plan. We may also complete a physical examination. This may include feeling the area affected, and assessing your joint movement, muscle strength, and balance.
What I need to bring
Please bring a list of your current medications.
What I need to wear
If you are being treated via video clinic or if you are attending the hospital clinic it is important that you wear, or bring with you, appropriate clothing so that we can fully observe the body part being treated if required, for example shorts or loose fitting exercise appropriate clothing/ footwear. If it is your neck, shoulder or back that is affected we may ask you to remove your shirt, this will be done in a private clinic space to protect your dignity.
How often I need to attend
The length and frequency of your treatment will depend on how you are recovering from your injury. For some operations, there are specific guidelines with timeframes and milestones to work towards in order for you to progress with your rehabilitation. We will work closely with you to ensure that you are progressing safely and achieving your goals.
Take a virtual tour of our facilities
Parking
For information for parking on either of our sites, please visit lancsteachinghospitals.nhs.uk/car-parking
- Contact us
Contact us
Telephone:
Royal Preston Hospital
Lines are open Monday – Friday (8.30-16.00) – 01772 522876
Chorley & South Ribble Hospital
Lines are open Monday – Friday (8.00-16.00) – 01257 245757
Email: Coretherapies@LTHTR.nhs.uk
Text: Please reply to your text message reminder & one of our staff members will contact you to rearrange.
Royal Preston Hospital
You can find Physiotherapy at number 6 on the hospital map here
Chorley Hospital
You can find Physiotherapy at number 18 on the hospital map here
Car Parking
For information for parking on either of our sites, please visit lancsteachinghospitals.nhs.uk/car-parking
- Your condition / operation
Please see below links to our patient information leaflets.
Avulsion fractures around the foot and ankle
Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) (*We are currently updating this leafet - please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this might have caused)
Physiotherapy Following Adult Spinal Fusion Surgery
Posterior Lumbar Spinal Fusion
Recovery from Lumbar Spinal Surgery
Recovery from Cervical Spine Surgery (*We are currently updating this leafet - please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this might have caused)
Osteoarthritis of the knee (*We are currently updating this leafet - please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this might have caused)
- Feedback
Please consider providing us with feedback about our gym classes by completing our survey.
Please consider providing us with feedback about our service by completing our survey.
