About Air Physiotherapy2024-05-21T10:05:00+01:00

Experts in Breathing Conditions.

The team at Air Physiotherapy are all specialist respiratory physiotherapists. This means each of them has extensive experience in the respiratory field and have specialised in the respiratory system to help those with breathing conditions.

Each of our physiotherapists are highly experienced in the following areas:

  • Long covid

  • Breathing pattern disorders

  • Hyperventilation syndrome

  • Exercise induced breathlessness including exercise induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO)

  • Airway clearance techniques

  • Management of chronic lung conditions such as COPD, CF, asthma, IPF, bronchiectasis

  • Pulmonary rehabilitation

Always putting you first

Each physiotherapist is a member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP), The Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Respiratory Care (ACPRC) and is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Your physiotherapist can provide assessment and treatment face to face in one of our clinics, virtually over video call, or in your home or hotel.

FAQs

  • Our physios have been carrying out virtual sessions over Zoom since March 2020. Since then, we have been developing thorough assessment and treatment strategies to ensure all our patients are assessed as accurately as possible.
  • We have several methods in place to ensure we can gather all the information we need to assess you.
  • During the first assessment, your physiotherapist will firstly need to spend time talking to you to gain a full medical history – this usually takes up the first half of the appointment.
  • The second half of the appointment will involve the physical assessment – this may require you to lie down or sit comfortably. Please just make sure you are able to position your camera sufficiently so the physiotherapist can see you properly. Your physiotherapist will provide guidance throughout, and rest assured, this can all be performed successfully over video.
  • After your first assessment, you might be sent some material to complete or videos to watch before your next appointment.
  • Patients have been telling us that video call is more favourable as it avoids the need to travel in to London to one of our clinics.
  • Video calls often offer greater flexibility and availability than our face to face clinics. We are therefore often able to offer you an appointment sooner than if you wait to see us in clinic.

During your first appointment, your physiotherapist will want to gain a proper understanding of the following:

  • When your symptoms started
  • The exact symptoms you are experiencing and what it feels like
  • Whether you have tried anything to help your symptoms so far and whether it has worked
  • Which medications you are taking
  • Results of any recent scans or tests you may have had

Your physiotherapist will then examine you:

  • They might look at you lying down to start with
  • They will observe your breathing in detail – it is important to try and relax at this point and breathe as normally as you can for you
  • They may put their hands on your chest to feel for movement
  • They may look at you standing up or climbing the stairs
  • They will not do anything that will cause you any pain or discomfort

You will be taught your first breathing exercise and will be given advice to help your symptoms:

  • Your physiotherapist will teach you a breathing exercise to help get your breathing back on track
  • You will discuss how, when and how often this should be performed
  • You will need to practice this at home and will be set up with a programme to follow
  • You might be given or emailed some information to refer to at home

Your physiotherapist will recommend that you are seen again within the next 1-2 weeks

  • This is to check you are on the right track – that the exercise is being performed correctly and starting to make a difference
  • If there are any issues that arise then it is important to fix them early on
  • Your physiotherapist may also want to progress your treatment.
  • During your second appointment your physiotherapist might also discuss the longer-term management of your condition with you. This is important to prevent it from occurring again.

During your first appointment, your physiotherapist will want to gain a proper understanding of the following:

  • When your symptoms started
  • The exact symptoms you are experiencing now and what it feels like
  • Whether you have tried anything to help your symptoms so far and whether it has worked
  • Which medications you are taking, if any
  • Results of any recent scans or tests you may have had

Your physiotherapist will then examine you:

  • They might look at you lying down to start with
  • They will observe your breathing in detail – it is important to try and relax at this point and breathe as normally as you can for you. They may put their hands on your chest to feel for movement
  • They may have a look at you moving around, for example performing a Sit to Stand Test, or climbing the stairs.
  • They will observe vital signs such as your heart rate and oxygen levels.
  • They will not do anything that will cause you any pain or discomfort

Depending on your symptoms and the outcome of your assessment, your physiotherapist will introduce the best treatment for you. This may include, but is not limited to:

  • Breathing pattern re-education exercises
  • Fatigue management strategies
    • Pacing, prioritisation and planning strategies
    • Symptom and activity tracking
    • Heart rate monitoring
  • Relaxation strategies
  • Gentle physical stretches or exercises
  • Your physiotherapist will talk to you about what to practice at home and you will be set up with a programme to follow
  • You might be given or emailed some information to refer to at home until your next appointment.

Your physiotherapist will recommend that you are seen again within the next 1-2 weeks

  • This is to check you are on the right track – that the treatment programme is being performed correctly and starting to make a difference
  • If there are any issues that arise then it is important to fix them early on
  • Your physiotherapist may also want to progress your treatment.

During your first appointment, your physiotherapist will want to gain a proper understanding of the following:

  • The exact symptoms that you are experiencing and what it feels like
  • Whether you have learnt any techniques to clear your chest before
  • Which medications you are taking
  • Results of any recent scans or tests you may have had

Your physiotherapist will then examine you:

  • They will look at your oxygen levels and listen to your chest with a stethoscope
  • They may feel your chest when you are breathing
  • They will ask to see your current regime, if you have one
  • They may experiment with different breathing techniques to establish one that is most suitable for you to keep your lungs clear.
  • They will not do anything that will cause you any pain or discomfort.

You will be taught a breathing exercise or routine to help clear your chest:

  • Your physiotherapist will take time teaching you a new exercise, or modifying your current one
  • You will discuss how, when and how often this should be performed
  • You will need to practice this at home and will be set up with a programme to follow
  • You will be given some written information to take home with you

Your physiotherapist will likely recommend that you are seen again within the next 1-2 weeks

  • This is to check you are on the right track and the regime is working for you
  • If there are any issues that arise then it is important to fix them early
  • During the second appointment your physiotherapist may also discuss the longer-term management of your condition with you, including a plan for when you are unwell

  • If you have any medical reports which we have not received via email please bring them with you.
  • For all appointments, it is helpful if you are wearing a light t-shirt or thin jumper so we can see your chest movement.
  • If you have any breathing adjuncts or devices that you use on a regular basis for airway clearance please bring them with you.
  • If you have a tailored exercise session booked, please wear some comfortable exercise clothes and trainers.

  • This depends on a number of factors including the severity of your symptoms and how much you adhere to your treatment.
  • Your physiotherapist will be able to give you a clearer idea of how many appointments you might need following your first assessment, and they will be able to continually feedback during each of your sessions regarding your progress.

  • This entirely depends on your progress and will be decided by your physiotherapist.
  • After your first appointment, it’s likely that your physiotherapist will want to review you within 1-2 weeks to check your progress.
  • As your respiratory treatment progresses, your sessions may become more spaced out as your condition improves, or if you have a long-term condition your physiotherapist might think you need to be seen on a regular basis.
  • For home visit appointments, these are decided on a case by case basis after your initial assessment. They are usually weekly but could be more or less frequent depending on the treatment we are providing and what condition you are being treated for.

  • Absolutely! You can talk to your physiotherapist about this as it may be that they do not need to see you face to face for every session, or they may not need to see if you face to face at all if you prefer!

  • We have a 48 hour cancellation policy which can be viewed here so please let us know as soon as you can if you know you cannot make your next appointment. This allows us to have enough time to offer your slot to someone else who is waiting.
  • You can contact us by email or phone to cancel your appointment and we will be happy to rearrange it for you.

 

Read our Case Studies…

 

What Our Patients Say

“I was referred for long COVID and Air Physio have been extremely helpful. I would highly recommend.”
Long COVID patient
“My physio was extremely helpful when I was experiencing breathing issues related to anxiety. She listened to my concerns very patiently and taught me exercises to control my breathing. I would very much recommend Air Physio’s approach to anyone experiencing similar issues.”
Breathing Pattern Re-education patient

“I have been having physio sessions with Air Physiotherapy for many months now and it is safe to say they have been nothing short of a revelation. The staff are not only super friendly and accommodating but extremely knowledgeable.”

Airway Clearance and Home visit patient

“I can’t thank Air Physio enough for helping me to finally sort out my breathing problems after a five month struggle with COVID-19. I was beginning to think that I would never be able to breathe normally again. I have gone from not being able to take a complete breath to running and hiking again.”


Long-COVID patient
“I would recommend going to see Air Physiotherapy if you are suffering from any kind of breathing pattern disorder, as the physios are excellent at what they do. I’ve seen many different doctors and none of them have been able to help me at all until I found Air Physiotherapy. Thank you!”

Breathing Pattern Re-education patient
“I recommend Air Physio to anyone with breathing issues, my physio was incredible! She not only told me the technique of how to manage my breathing issue and to get it better, she helped me truly understand how breathing works. On top of that she made me feel very comfortable and she is really down to earth.”

Breathing Pattern Re-education patient

Book an Appointment

If you would like to know more about how Air Physiotherapy can help you, please get in touch.

0207 971 1464

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