Background

The Bexhill Physiotherapy Clinic was founded in 1988 and was first located in a ground floor flat in Ederton Road, Bexhill. At that time Peter Butcher was the Superintendent Physiotherapist at Bexhill Hospital. His main interests were sports injuries and rheumatological disorders. Both these areas were influenced by his work at the West London Stadium with Thames Valley Harriers and the Sports Clinic based within the hospital in which he worked. After re-locating to Bexhill he continued to see people from the sports world and at that time became associated with Bexhill Town Football Club.

the clinic moved in 1991 to Amherst Road in Bexhill, where it stayed for 15 years. During that time Peter left the NHS, to work privately and on a contractual basis for the Bexhill Commissioning Group of GPs.

The Clinic moved to Sutherland Avenue in 2006, to become part of the Body Junction. This is a purposely converted ground floor unit, housing three treatment rooms and a fully equipped Pilates Studio.

The Clinic has expanded, and now employs Rebecca Lunn who is both a Physiotherapist and Pilates instructor.

Collaboration between the two disciplines of Physiotherapy and Pilates with Charlotte Farrant has improved the scope of practice of the clinic (see "about us" for further details).

What to expect

There are three Chartered Physiotherapists working out of this clinic, your GP, Consultant or Insurance Company may well have provided you with a named therapist, and as such that practitioner will be allocated to you.

In the event that your requested therapist is unavailable for a number of reasons and that you can not be given an appointment in a reasonable time frame you will be offered a slot with another physiotherapist.

Booking an Appointment

When booking an appointment:- You will be asked to provide a contact number, and if you are a new patient to the clinic, you will be assigned a therapist

You will also be asked to confirm your appointment time, and also if you know how to reach the premises.

It is well to remember:- To wear suitable clothing, to bring reading glasses for filling in any forms that might be required of you, and to bring a method of payment such as cheques or cash, as yet we are unable to accept debit or credit cards.

Information we would find helpful

Medical Information: - We will need to know who your GP is or Consultant, a list of medication that you have been prescribed, and any insurance claim or reference details.

When you arrive

Arriving; you will have read that we have a car park, and that we are opposite the Colington Railway Station on the North side. Try and be available at least 10 minutes before your treatment time. This is to register, and to complete any forms or to read any information that may be pertinent to you.

What we will do

Your physiotherapist, will take notes on your presenting condition, and will need to know information regarding your past medical history. Information as to how your pain occurred, how long you have suffered with symptoms and any treatment that has helped you in the past. Prior to you being examined you will be asked to complete a consent form, allowing the therapist to examine you. Following the examination, your therapist will give you an assessment on their findings and that course of action that with your approval, they will undertake.

Following your visit/course of treatment

A satisfaction questionnaire will be given to you to complete, this is available at the Reception Desk.

Staff News

Tracey Butcher joins the team at the Bexhill Physiotherapy Clinic

Tracey who qualified in 1987 from the West Middlesex School of Physiotherapy has spent all of her working life in the NHS. Now she has joined the team at the Body Junction and brings with her a special interest in the treatment and management of migraine headaches, whiplash associated disorders, dizzyness and chronic regional pain syndromes. Due to an increasing demand for these particular areas of physiotherapy we are very pleased that Tracey has strengthened and broadened the coverage of conditions managed at the clinic.

Chronic Back Pain

Low back pain is one of the most common causes of pain and disability. At the forfront of management is enpowerment. Giving the patient knowledge and understanding, dispelling fears and anxiety.

In order to plan the best way forward, patients are given an examinationand this follows two broad pathways. The first is to determine the history of the current event and any other previous events. Coupled to the history is an evaluation of the pattern of discomfort and how it presents to the patient during the course of a normal days activities. In other words, "what makes it better", "what makes it worse","how long does it last" and "how limiting is it"?

Following is a physical examination, and the responses to the questions above allow the therapist to determine what structures i.e. what joint, muscles, ligaments etc need special attention. Combining the findings of both assessment criteria and taking into account the patients general well being and health the therapist can make a clinical diagnosis leading to a plan of treatment.

A discussion on the most appropriate course of action is provided. It may well involve manual therapy, such as mobilisation of the soft tissue structures with deep frictional massage, trigger point stimulation, joint manipulation etc. Exercise is an important adjunct to treatment enabling the patient to maintain the restored movement and function gained by the physical treatment.

Some pain relief can be given with the use of acupuncture. Advice on positioning and posture in the early stages of recovery are very important, and for the longer term ergonomic advice will be discussed.

Fitness is essential, this does not mean running half marathons, it means keeping active, walking regularly and giving yourself time to enjoy lifes physical recreation. Pilates can be offered at the Body Junction, and is an excellent way to continue keeping mobile and strong not only after an episode of back pain but as a general exercise disipline.