Physiotherapy uses a variety of techniques to help muscles and joints work to their full potential. It can help repair damage by speeding up the healing process and reducing pain and stiffness. Physiotherapy also has an important role in rehabilitation, for example, helping people who have had strokes to relearn basic movements. Physiotherapy advice can help prevent problems returning or even happening in the first place.

Physiotherapy can help virtually any condition that affects muscles or nerves including:

• painful conditions such as arthritis
• back and neck pain
• problems affecting children such a cerebral palsy
• pregnancy related symptoms such as stress incontinence
• upper limb work-related problems eg repetitive strain injury
• asthma and other breathing difficulties
• sports injuries
• strokes and other neurological problems
• symptoms of stress and anxiety.

Treatments include:

• exercise programmes
• manipulation and mobilisation
• electrotherapy eg ultrasound
• acupuncture
• hydrotherapy - exercise in water
• massage

Formal training in physiotherapy currently takes 4 years. Formally qualified practitioners are entitled to call themselves chartered physiotherapists and carry the qualifications of MCSP (member of the chartered society of physiotherapists) and SRP (state registered physiotherapist).

Local Practitioners:

Name	Area	Phone
James Tomkies	Stoke Gifford	0117 9749720
James Tomkies	Emmerson's Green	0117 9109100
David Adler	Kingswood	0117 9525424
Carmel Bardsley	Knowle	0117 9774159
Christopher Bardsley	Knowle	0117 9774159
Alison Barlow	Yate	01454 313874
Alison Barlow	Chipping Sodbury	01454 317068
Louise Brinson	Almondsbury	01454 616026
Alexandra Buckley	Bath	01225 325200
Alexandra Buckley	Bath	01225 835555
Janis Caple	Clifton	0117 9733387
Paul Cardinal	Clifton	0117 9249980
Lisa Carter	Chipping Sodbury	01454 322232
Jenny Conway	Bath	01225 313153
Colin Cook	Bath	01225 445963
Rebecca Cox	Backwell	01275 462416
Margaret Crowson	Clifton	0117 9733387
Margaret Crowson	Clifton	0117 9732158
Louise Dodds	Bradley Stoke	01454 618525
Melanie Downs-Wheeler	Frenchay	0117 9753858
Enid Dunhill	Almondsbury	01454 613152
Julia Evans	Holcombe	01761 232986
Pamela Galloway	Bath	01225 337555
Kathleen Gardner	Winscombe	01934 824414
Brenda Goldie	Clifton	0117 9706390
Brenda Goldie	Little Stoke	01454 616767
Danielle Golton	Chipping Sodbury	01454 322232
Deborah Good	Rangeworthy	01454 228181
Joanna Gotley	Keynsham	01225 873245
Joanna Gotley	Saltford	01225 873245
Fiona Harding	Chipping Sodbury	01454 322232
Sandra Harding	Bath	01225 425807
Sandra Harding	Bath	01225 840333 ext 263
Sandra Harding	Bath	01225 422406
Margaret Horton	Bath	01225 422933
Sue Hughes	Henleaze	0117 9076186
Keith James	Clifton	0117 9731201
Keith James	Redland	0117 9731139
Louise Jones	Wick	0117 9374862
Maggie Lamb	Clifton	0117 9730391
Jane Larder-Smith	Winscombe	01934 823084
Royce Menezes	Bath	01225 444033
Elizabeth O'Brien	Clifton	0117 9730391
Jane Osborne	Bath	01225 323636
Diane Ouzman	Long Ashton	01275 393149
Sue Owen	Bath	01225 444424
Robert Patterson	Westbury-on -Trym	0117 9625195
Vanessa Paver	Downend	0117 9563103
Judith Price	Westbury on Trym	0117 9623258
Peter Purslow	Bristol Centre	0117 9264745
Karen Reeves	Thornbury	01454 418809
Jo Seddon	Redland	0117 9804022
Jo-Anna Sholl-Evans	Clevedon	01275 343344
Jo-Anna Sholl-Evans	Portishead	01275 817781
Mary Slight	Backwell	01275 463536
June Simmonds	Weston super Mare	01934 412011
Dinah Spratt	Chipping Sodbury	01454 322232
Susan Taylor	Clifton	0117 9467990
Emma Turner	Bishopston	0117 9422002
Alison Vyas	Long Ashton	01275 393149
Penny White	Downend	01454 325297
Rebecca Williams	Bath	01225 482573