It only takes a quick Google to realise that there are hundreds of clinics that offer the “best physiotherapy in London”, but they can’t all be the best! Luckily, there is an easy way to narrow down your choice of private clinic. All you have to do is look for our five signs of a good physio clinic while avoiding any clinic that raises a red flag.
Keep reading to find out exactly how to uncover the best physiotherapy in London for your needs and all the red flags to avoid. If you need a quick overview of what physiotherapy entails and whether it is the right course for you, read our Ultimate Guide to Physiotherapy first.
Table of Contents
5 Signs a Physio Clinic is Good
When researching London physiotherapy clinics (or clinics elsewhere in the UK), here are five signs to look for.
1. Meet the Team
Although the reputation of the clinic is important, you’ll usually be treated by a single physiotherapist – it’s their expertise and reputation that matters for physiotherapy in London!
Look for a list of practising physiotherapists available at the clinic. Assess their experience in the field, seniority, education, and specialities. Practising physio requires a BSc, though some therapists may also have an MSc in Physiotherapy. All physiotherapists must be licensed to practise in the UK by the HCPC, and many therapists are also members of other boards and organisations.
Good clinics list all this information on their websites.
2. Relevant Services
The next sign is subjective: check that the physio clinic has expertise and treatments that fit your needs. A good physio clinic for your friend might not necessarily be appropriate for you.
Look for physiotherapy in London clinics that have a clearly defined list of services and ailments that they treat. If your condition or required physio type isn’t listed (or is hidden away), then they are not a good option for you.
Some of the largest clinics may seem to be a “one-stop-shop” for physiotherapy, offering every type and treatment possible. This isn’t automatically a bad thing, you just need to check that they truly do have physiotherapists that specialise in all the treatments they offer.
At One Body LDN, we focus on musculoskeletal physiotherapy (great for general aches and pains), sports injuries and sports physio, and full-body MOTs to check and optimise your health.
3. Clear Pricing
In addition to providing clear info about physiotherapists and the services on offer, a good private physiotherapy clinic in London will always be honest about their prices. Look for:
- The cost of an initial assessment,
- The costs of different session lengths,
- Any additional costs for more specialist treatments,
- Discount rates for group sessions (and the terms attached to the deal),
- Fees that might not be included upfront (tax, clinic vs home visit fees, cancellation fees).
It’s normal for prices to increase with session length, physiotherapist seniority, and more complex treatments.
4. Consistent Reviews
Five-star reviews are great, but it’s not realistic for a clinic to have 100% five-star reviews; in fact, that’s a bit suspicious. Instead, look for consistency across reviews on the clinic’s website, social media, and dedicated review sites (like feefo and Trustpilot). If customers all seem to be saying the same thing, like praising the clinic’s open hours or the friendliness of the staff, then they are likely to be trustworthy. Having a few reviews that are four-star or less isn’t the end of the world. What matters more is how the clinic responds to negative feedback.
Good places to check for reviews include social media sites like Instagram and Facebook, Google business reviews, and review sites. You can also ask friends, family and medical professionals for their clinic recommendations too.
5. Initial Diagnosis and Ongoing Assessments
The last thing you should look for is details about that first session with a physiotherapist. Treating your condition starts with a diagnosis and an assessment. Whether you are referred to physio by a doctor or not, no good physiotherapist will skip this step. By assessing your body, discussing your medical history, and talking to you about your goals, we can ensure that physiotherapy is effective and targeted.
5 Signs You Should Avoid a Physiotherapy Clinic
If you find any of these signs when looking at private physiotherapy in London, take a step back and reevaluate.
1. No Clarity
As you probably guessed from our signs of a good clinic, lack of clarity is a major red flag for physiotherapy in London. Thankfully, this is easy to spot just by browsing their website. The details you need to look for are:
- Names and specialities of the physiotherapists.
- The type of physio, conditions treated, and treatments on offer.
- Clinic location and opening times.
- Pricing structure.
If a few or all of these details are missing, avoid the clinic altogether. Some small and independent physiotherapists may ask you to contact them to clarify pricing, usually due to home visits with varying travel costs. Any communication you have with the clinic should be clear and concise. The larger clinics have no excuse for not being upfront on their website.
2. A Guaranteed Number of Sessions
If you are told exactly how many sessions you will need and other intricate details before you even get an assessment, this is another red flag. Clinics or individual physiotherapists may be able to give you an average number of sessions for your ailment, but nothing precise.
Each person is different, from the severity of their symptoms to how their body heals. We sometimes find that as one symptom is treated, another underlying symptom emerges. So, there’s no way a physiotherapist can accurately tell you how many sessions you need. They can only give you an estimate after first assessing your body and talking through your medical history. Even then, estimates change as the sessions go by.
The number of sessions you require is tailored to your recovery, not the other way around!
3. Unconfirmed Treatment Techniques
Another sign that a physiotherapy clinic in London should be avoided is an over-reliance on unproven treatment techniques. Some alternative medicine techniques can be used to supplement your treatment, but the physiotherapist should always rely on proven and accepted treatment methods.
Look to see what techniques they use in the services part of the website menu, or contact them to find out. You can find a list of widely-used treatments and physio types in our Ultimate Guide to Physiotherapy.
4. Bad Attitudes
Getting a sense of the physiotherapist’s attitude can help you decide if they are the right fit. If they seem uninterested in helping you or just want to go through the motions without taking the time to discuss your concerns, they are not the right therapist for you.
Additionally, physiotherapists who are too friendly and want to spend more time socialising than practising should also be avoided. While building rapport with patients and providing verbal education is important, physiotherapists are not here to waste your time.
Ultimately, we are trained professionals and our relationship with patients must remain professional too. You should trust us just as you would any other medical professional. If you attend sessions (or read reviews of sessions) where the physiotherapist ignores personal boundaries, asks irrelevant personal questions, or creates an uncomfortable environment, this is not acceptable.
5. No New Qualifications
The field of medicine is constantly evolving and improving as new studies and reviews come to light. This is no different in physiotherapy. Physiotherapists should be open to learning and refreshing their knowledge on their own time. If you ask about a new technique and their response is to dismiss it even if they have no knowledge of it, this could be a red flag.
Not every new treatment will be effective for your condition, but the best physiotherapists in London should always be open to researching and expanding their education. They should also be able to pass this knowledge on to you. A good sign that a physiotherapist is staying up-to-date is a list of qualifications or specialisations beyond their initial physiotherapy training – look for this on their website.
FAQs
How do I choose a physiotherapist in the UK?
Look for a physiotherapist who specialises in the condition you are suffering or the treatment you are seeking. They should be qualified and experienced for physiotherapy in London. They should also be upfront with their pricing and what a physio session entails.
What makes a physiotherapist good?
A good physiotherapist is knowledgeable with up-to-date education. They will have an area of expertise and be able to educate you as well as treat you. Physiotherapists are medical professionals, so expect a friendly, trustworthy and can-do attitude from physiotherapy in London!
How many times should I see a physiotherapist?
The number of sessions depends on your ailment, goals, and how your body responds to treatment. Your physiotherapist should be able to give you an estimated number of sessions (based on their experience) after assessing your health status and medical history.
