Pain Management Physiotherapy
Pain Management Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy for patients with chronic pain aims to achieve healthy levels of activity and self- management.

Clinical and cost-effectiveness evidence supports using a cognitive behavioural approach addressing both physical limitations and people’s beliefs about, and understanding of, their condition.

People with multiple health issues or whose pain is causing significant physical, psychological or social problems may require management by a multidisciplinary pain service. 

Specialist physiotherapists identify reasons for lack of progress in rehabilitation, such as fear avoidance of movement or unhelpful patterns of over-and under-activity.

Referral to specialist physiotherapy for advice and exercise improves outcomes and is cost-effective. Using a risk-stratification tool and providing risk-matched treatment improves the condition, shortens time off work, reduces sickness certification and healthcare costs.

Manual therapy or acupuncture may produce short term benefit, but evidence supports the use of active treatments such as therapeutic exercise. Multidisciplinary pain management programmes (PMP) including physiotherapy are an effective intervention for people with chronic pain and cost-saving compared to physiotherapy alone. 

25% of people with chronic pain lose their jobs. Physiotherapy supports and enables people with chronic pain to remain in or return to work. Mindfulness and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) have been shown to be as effective as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and are used in some centres. Physiotherapists signpost people to online and community resources to support ongoing self-management. Increasingly physiotherapists use prescribing skills to optimise medication use.

Your physiotherapist may also use other treatments including acupuncture and the use of a TENS machine (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation).
Chronic pain can impact significantly upon physical, emotional and social wellbeing. 
Physiotherapy utilising a broad scope of practice can safely and cost-effectively support and guide people with long term pain towards the best possible quality of life.

Chronic Pain - Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

Back Pain Exercises - Arthritis Research UK

Yoga exercises for lower back pain 

Yoga with Adriene 

Pilates videos for low back pain

High quality, effective, efficient, professional care

Direct access to a multidisciplinary team including specialist pain management consultant, anaesthetist, physiotherapists, acupuncturists and psychologist
Providing diagnosis, treatment and management of all acute and chronic pain conditions
Schedule a Consultation

Our Leadership

Dr W Allister 
Dow

Dr W Allister Dow MB ChB FRCA FFPMRCA Surgeon Cdr Royal Navy Rtd. Consultant in Anaesthesia and Pain Management, Royal Surrey County NHS Foundation Trust and Director, Surrey Pain Solutions, BMI Mount Alvernia Hospital, Guildford. 

Dr Lorraine 
Nanke

Dr Lorraine Nanke - Principle Clinical and Health Psychologist, Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Lead Psychologist Pain Management, Royal Surrey Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Guildford.

Stephanie 
Wilkins SRP MCSP

Stephanie Wilkins SRP MCSP - After qualifying as a physiotherapist in 2000, Steph has worked in a variety of NHS settings, including the Centre for Defence Medicine in Birmingham. During the past 12 years she has worked in the private health sector treating a variety of acute and chronic disorders
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