Physiotherapy

I am a qualified physiotherapist and am registered with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). I have worked in the NHS for 25 years. My area of expertise is helping people with long term conditions, chronic pain and frailty.

As a physiotherapist, I will take time to listen to your history and your current difficulties with compassion and understanding. We will look at what your physical problems are, how they are impacting on your life and consider what you would like to change and how. We will look at what is important to you and set step by step goals to achieve this.

My approach is not about ‘me treating you’. I do not offer ‘hands on’ manipulation, techniques or massage. I am interested in helping you to make links between you emotional life and your physical symptoms. My main goal is to give you understanding and control of your physical well-being where you are able to live the best possible life. This may involve a variety of strategies:

  • Specific exercises that help you with your individual problem (eg to strengthen, stretch, stabilise, balance).
  • Chronic pain – individual programme to help understand and minimize your pain (see ‘therapy for pain‘ section).
  • Ways to introduce activity into your life to improve stamina and fitness.
  • Physio led strength and balance classes.
  • Advice and information about your specific condition or injury, explained in a way you can understand.
  • Ways to help manage fatigue.
  • Pain education.
  • Breathing exercises and techniques to help manage lung conditions.
  • Relaxation techniques.
  • Identifying what your barriers to starting or staying motivated may be and helping you overcome these.
  • Ways to introduce hobbies, social activities and enjoyment into your life.

I offer home visits and also visit nursing and residential homes (local to Aberdeenshire) with prior discussion and depending on location.

“The body speaks to us through symptoms. Symptoms tell us something is going on, whether through the nature of the symptom, the effect it has, or the changes it demands”

Deb Shapiro