Expert Physiotherapists In Hereford

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions asked by our patients

Where is best to park?
ios-plus-empty@2x

We are located right on the edge of the High Town pedestrianised zone and are lucky enough to have several parking options open to us.

On street parking – there is disabled on street parking available within 50ft of the clinic on Offa St. There is further disabled and general parking available on St Peter’s Square and continuing onto St Owen’s street, within approximately 300ft.

Gaol St and Bath Street car parks are a short 2 minute walk from the clinic.

Many of our patients choose to park at Tesco and combine their weekly shop with a visit to us!

Yes, our Podiatrists and Physiotherapists are HCPC registered (Health & Care Professions Council).

This is an important registration which maintains the highest standards of care. You can check if health care professionals are registered by clicking here.

Working alongside our HCPC registered team members we have practitioners in roles that are not regulated by the HCPC. At the time of writing this includes a Podiatry Apprentice and Foot Health Practitioner. We ensure that everyone who works for Infinite Podiatry & Physio has the appropriate level of education, experience and insurance for the care they provide, so you can be confident in every single member of our team.

The titles Podiatrist and Chiropodist are legally protected by the Royal College of Podiatry. These titles can only be used by someone who has attained a recognised qualification in this field. To hold this title one must also be registered with the Health & Care Professions Council and will appear on their register, which can be found here.

The term Chiropody was used historically to describe a person who carried out general foot care; nail cutting, callus and corn removal. 30+ years ago, these practitioners had varying levels of training and their care was not regulated.

Two decades ago, as foot care become more and more complex, it was decided that Chiropodists would need to complete an approved course in order to use that name. Several years later, that course became a degree to truly reflect the complexity of care provided by practitioners and the name Podiatrist was introduced, in order to differentiate this new breed of healthcare professionals from the old image of Chiropodists.

Podiatry now has expanded to include: management of complex diabetic foot wounds, supply of prescription only medications, injection therapy, use of local anaesthetic, nails surgery, management of lower limb pains, complex vascular assessment, diagnosis of systemic disease, gait analysis and orthotics prescription… we could go on!

Podiatrists now still carry out the basics, but while we’re cutting your nails we’re also assessing you for vascular insufficiencies, atrial fibrillation, skin cancers, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes, to name but a few!

Infinite Podiatry also have Foot Health Professional’s (FHPs) on our team. As Podiatry has become more specialised, FHPs have stepped up to provide the more general foot care. Our FHPs have a lot of experience, work with the support of Podiatrists and are constantly being up-skilled and trained to increase their knowledge and skills.

For all Podiatry appointments we ask that you wear the shoes you most commonly wear. Don’t put your best shoes on just for us! We like to see the shoes you live in most, as they can have a big impact on your feet and on our advice to you.

For Physiotherapy and Biomechanics Podiatry Consultation please wear comfortable clothes which you can move around in. Shorts or trousers which can be rolled up to the knee are needed to allow us to see how your feet and legs are moving, if this is relevant to your problem. Please ensure the site of your pain is accessible to your practitioner.

On your arrival our patient care team will welcome you warmly into our waiting area. If you have any questions about your appointment or care, please ask. Our patient care team are very knowledgeable about the care we provide, extremely cheerful and keen to talk to our patients!

If you need any help with completing your medical history form, please arrive a few minutes early and we will be very happy to help you.

You will then be taken into a clinical room by your clinician, who will already have seen your medical history form and will have a good understanding of how they can help you. They will take you through the history of your problem before completing a physical assessment. They will provide you with a diagnosis of your problem, though occasionally this may initially be a working diagnosis pending further investigations.

Depending on the initial consultation you have booked, treatment may be completed during this first visit. Examples of this would be nail care, corns and callus removal, manual therapy to address a painful muscular condition. Some conditions such as verruca, fungal nails and musculo-skeletal problems cannot be solved in one appointment and your clinician will work with you to develop a plan to resolve your condition going forwards. You will be provided with a written copy of your consultation and plan within 48 hours of your visit.

Usually, a follow up appointment will be made to allow us to check on your progress and the effectiveness of the plan we designed. This may be a single follow up or part of a series of planned appointments.

What can I expect during my first physiotherapy appointment?
ios-plus-empty@2x

At your initial appointment, your physiotherapist will take a detailed history of your symptoms and perform a physical assessment to identify the underlying causes of your discomfort or mobility issue. Based on this evaluation, they’ll develop a personalised treatment plan tailored to your needs and goals.

No, you do not need a GP’s referral to see one of our Physiotherapists. Physiotherapists are primary care providers for Musculoskeletal conditions, meaning that your Physio will be qualified to assess and diagnose your muscle, tendon, joint or bone pain without seeing any other provider beforehand.

Our Physiotherapists can treat a wide range of conditions, including but not limited to:

  • Back, neck, and joint pain
  • Sports injuries
  • Arthritis
  • Post-surgical rehabilitation – Knee or Hip Replacements, ACL repair
  • Chronic pain conditions – Fibromyalgia
  • Mobility and balance issues related to aging
  • Tendon and ligament injuries
  • Work-related injuries

Yes, our Physiotherapists are HCPC (Health & Care Professions Council) and CSP (Chartered Society of Physiotherapy) registered.

These are important registrations which ensure that we maintain the highest standards of care. You can check if health care professionals are registered by clicking here.

Most physiotherapy sessions last between 30 and 40 minutes. The length of your session depends on your specific condition and the treatment plan your physiotherapist designs for you.

The number of sessions required varies based on your condition, its severity, and how quickly you respond to treatment. Your physiotherapist will give you an estimate during your initial consultation based on your individual assessment.

It’s best to wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that allows for easy movement. If your treatment involves a specific joint or body part, ensure that area is accessible for the physiotherapist to assess and treat.

Physiotherapy shouldn’t be overly painful, but you may experience some discomfort, particularly if you’re working through an injury or recovering from surgery. Your physiotherapist will work within your tolerance levels and guide you through exercises and treatments safely.

Your physiotherapist may use a combination of techniques, including:

  • Manual therapy (massage, joint mobilisation)
  • Exercise therapy (strengthening, stretching)
  • Taping or bracing
  • Shockwave Therapy
  • Gait analysis and orthotics

Yes, most treatment plans will include exercises to be performed at home to aid your recovery. We provide these exercises either in print or through our interactive app, Physitrack, so you can stay on track between sessions.

We are integrated with all major insurance providers (AXA, AVIVA, VITALITY, WPA, CIGNA, BUPA) to offer our Physiotherapy services. If you would like to clarify whether we accept your insurance provider, please contact us via 01981 458 127.

We request that patients provide at least 48 hours’ notice if they need to cancel or reschedule an appointment. Cancellations within this period may incur a fee.

You can schedule an appointment by calling our clinic, booking online through our website, or visiting us in person.

We are located right on the edge of the High Town pedestrianised zone and are lucky enough to have several parking options open to us.

On street parking – there is disabled on street parking available within 50ft of the clinic on Offa St. There is further disabled and general parking available on St Peter’s Square and continuing onto St Owen’s street, within approximately 300ft.

Gaol St and Bath Street car parks are a short 2 minute walk from the clinic.

Many of our patients choose to park at Tesco and combine their weekly shop with a visit to us!