Patient info
What to expect
Everything you need to know before your first appointment — where to find the clinic, what to wear, what to bring, and how the session will run.
How to find us
My clinic is within Bodywise Pilates on Blakey Road near College Roundabout. For a map, see the contact page.
Parking
Free parking is available, both at the front of the building and along the side. When using these spaces, a valid parking permit must be displayed in your front windscreen or your vehicle registration must be entered into the parking register located in the waiting room.
Parking permits are provided free of charge for all physiotherapy clients and can be collected from Bodywise Pilates reception.
Please note that any fines issued for not following these guidelines cannot be reversed by Bodywise Pilates Ltd.
What to wear
For your appointment, it can be helpful to wear loose, comfortable clothing that allows easy movement. Sometimes I may need to see the area that feels painful or stiff more clearly — for example, shorts can be useful for back, hip, or knee assessments, and a sports bra can help with shoulder or neck assessments for female clients.
That said, your comfort always comes first. If you’d prefer not to undress, please just let me know. We will always work in a way that feels safe and respectful for you. These same guidelines apply to virtual appointments, and we can adapt as needed.
Please note that Bodywise Pilates has a gentle no-shoe policy in the reception area and studios to help keep the space clean and comfortable for everyone. Shoe racks are available at the entrance if you’d like to leave your outdoor shoes there, or you’re very welcome to bring indoor shoes to wear in the clinic and reception areas.
When you arrive, you’re welcome to wait in the reception room until the time of your appointment.
Do I need to bring anything with me?
For your first appointment, it can be helpful to bring along a few things that give a clearer picture of your health and any previous care you’ve received. If you take regular medication, bringing a simple list is useful. Any recent scan or X-ray results are also welcome — they can help us understand your situation more fully.
If you’ve been given an exercise programme by another therapist, feel free to bring that too. It’s always helpful to see what you’ve already tried and what has or hasn’t felt right for you.
There’s no need to worry if you don’t have everything to hand — we’ll work with whatever you’re able to bring, and we’ll take things step by step together.
What happens at the first appointment?
Your first appointment has two main aims. The first is to understand your story clearly — what the problem is, how it affects your daily life, and what you hope to achieve through physiotherapy. I’ll also ask about your general health and medical history, and we’ll discuss your expectations and goals so we can shape the session around what matters most to you.
The second part, if appropriate, is a thorough physical examination carried out in the clinic. You’ll be involved throughout, and your feedback during any tests helps guide the clinical diagnosis. For some people with more complex or longstanding issues, the discussion phase may naturally take longer. If that’s the case, we’ll talk it through and adjust the session accordingly.
In situations where pain is very severe, it may be more helpful to focus on advice and strategies to reduce symptoms rather than completing a full physical assessment that could aggravate things. We’ll always choose the approach that best supports your comfort and progress.
By the end of the appointment, you will usually have a clearer understanding of the likely diagnosis, along with specific advice or strategies to try before your next session. If time allows, we may also begin treatment.
My aim is that you feel informed, involved, and confident in the plan we create together.
Ready when you are
Book an appointment, or start with a free discovery call.