FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. : What is the difference between Orthopaedic, physiotherapist, bonesetters (thit-ta in Cantonese), masseuses and chiropractors?
Q. : Do I need to be referred to by a doctor or can I just book an appointment?
Q. : What do I need to bring with me?
Q. : Can you please run me through what I will be subjected to during my first visit?
Q. : Who will be seeing me or should I tell you first about my condition and leave the recommendation of a physiotherapist to you?
Q. : How long will each session last and how many sessions do I need?
Q. : Is there a guarantee that I will get 100% better?
Q. : How soon can I get an appointment?
Q. : What is the difference between normal masseur/spa and physio. Is it the same if I go for a massage outside?
Q : Can I do self-massage?
Q : Why did my masseuse said that I have “wind (angin)”?
Q : Why does an achy lump feel better with a massage? And why does it keep returning?
Q : Should I use one or a combination of these: Koyok (medicated plaster)/medication/acupuncture?
Q : Can I do a workout if I am in pain? Can I go back to deadlifts/aggressive gym routines after this?
Q: My doctor says I have a disc problem and directed me to go for an MRI. The MRI confirmed it. Can physiotherapy help?
Q: I have scoliosis and read tonnes of materials on it. It seems no one has the answer to what caused it, how to prevent it, or the right treatment as everyone seems to say different things and respond differently to all the different treatments that are available in the market. What do you have in your ScolioX® program that is so different from the rest? And does it guarantee a 100% improvement? Are there diagnostic tools that can be used to detect the condition? What are the chances of physiotherapy reversing it?
Q : Doctors say I can’t bend forward, what can I do? My ortho says that I should not to do a rotation of the body anymore. Is it true?
Q : I have pain and did all the necessary scans but my specialist could not find a problem. I was prescribed with the usual painkillers, muscle relaxants and anti-depressants. It didn’t seem to work as my pain comes on and off. What is happening?
Q: My staff are complaining of shoulder and lower back aches. As a result, the management bought ergonomic chairs and workstations for them. However, these helped but only for a while. Is there anything your physiotherapy centre can recommend so that we can reduce lost man-hours and medical bills?
Q: My daughter fell down the stairs when she was four. Apart from some bruises, our family physician gave her a clean bill of health. Now she’s 12 and recently I just noticed that her left shoulder is lower than her right. Friends say it’s because of lugging a heavy school bag. I fear for the worst – that she might be having a curved spine due to the fall. Can you help?
Q: I am an avid sportsman and recently, while training for my cross-country run, I pulled my hamstring. Two weeks rest was recommended by my doctor and painkillers were prescribed. Now I am back on my feet but I still feel tightness in my left leg and I don’t feel as flexible as I was. Can physiotherapy help me loosen that?
Q: I fell and sprained my ankle two weeks ago. Now my back is also aching. Should I go see a thit-ta (bonesetter) or opt for physiotherapy? Can back pain be related to a sprained ankle?
Q: I am a golfer and after working out on the fairways for a few days, I feel my back tighten up. Do you offer sports massages as part of physiotherapy services?
Q: My 15-year-old daughter is interested in taking up ballet. I think she’s a bit old to take up such a flexible dance routine. Is there any diagnostic test in a physio lab that can find out if she is ready to start ballet from ground zero? I don’t want her to be injured.
Q: My 70-year-old father in law used to be very active until he retired from active work at his company. For the past six months, he has been sitting in front of the computer, enjoying social media and watching online programmes. Recently he was complaining of dizziness. Scans later and several costly trips to several hospitals yielded nothing physically wrong with him and gave him a diagnosis called BPPV or vertigo. How can physiotherapy assist him?