Physiotherapy at Home — When Getting to the Clinic Is Not an Option
Not everyone is able to travel to a clinic. Following a serious injury, a major operation, or during a period of reduced mobility, the journey to a physiotherapy appointment can feel like an insurmountable hurdle. At The Physiotherapy Centre, we believe that your recovery shouldn’t be delayed because you can’t leave the house.
Our home visit service is led by Laura Holdway, a highly experienced Chartered Community Physiotherapist. Laura provides expert rehabilitation across Waterlooville, Portsmouth, Fareham, and the surrounding areas, bringing the same clinical excellence and evidence-based approach you would find in our clinic directly to your living room.
Conditions We Treat
Our home visit service covers the assessment and treatment of:
Post Joint Replacement Rehabilitation
Total hip replacement and total knee replacement recovery requires structured rehabilitation to restore movement, rebuild strength, and return to walking and daily activities. Laura follows your surgeon’s protocol, progresses your exercises at each visit, and monitors your recovery closely. Many patients begin home visits within the first week after discharge and transition to clinic-based treatment as their mobility improves.
Post Fracture Rehabilitation
Hip fractures, lower limb fractures, and ankle fractures can leave you significantly deconditioned, particularly if you have spent time in hospital or been non-weight-bearing. Rehabilitation focuses on regaining safe mobility, restoring strength, and building your confidence to move around your home independently.
Post Hospital Stay Deconditioning
A period in hospital—for any reason—can result in significant loss of strength, balance, and confidence. Even a few days of bed rest can reduce muscle mass and cardiovascular fitness, particularly in older adults. Laura provides a structured programme to rebuild your physical function and help you return to your normal activities.
Balance and Falls Prevention
If you have had a fall, are worried about falling, or have noticed your balance deteriorating, physiotherapy can help. Laura carries out a thorough assessment of your balance, strength, gait, and home environment, then provides a targeted exercise programme to reduce your fall risk. This may include reviewing trip hazards and advising on appropriate walking aids.
How We Treat: Our Approach
This section highlights the practical and personalized nature of home-based care. It shifts the focus from “visiting a patient” to “transforming a home into a rehabilitation space,” providing immense value to those who may be feeling housebound.
The Home-Based Rehabilitation Pathway
Our home visit service is a structured clinical journey designed to move you from recovery to independence. By assessing you in your own environment, we can address the specific physical hurdles you face every day.
Home-Based Assessment
Your first session is a comprehensive evaluation of both your physical health and your living space. Laura will review your medical history, current medications, and any recent surgical or hospital discharge records.
The physical assessment is highly functional, focusing on:
- Mobility and Balance: How safely you can move between rooms.
- Functional Strength: Your ability to perform essential tasks like rising from a chair, getting in and out of bed, or safely using the stairs.
- Home Safety Audit: Laura will identify potential fall risks such as loose rugs or lighting issues, and suggest accessibility modifications to make your home safer.
Individually Tailored Treatment
We believe that rehabilitation is most effective when it fits into your daily life. Your programme is built around your specific goals and utilizes the “gym” you already have:
- Functional Equipment: We use your own furniture—chairs for squats, kitchen counters for balance, and stairs for cardiovascular work—to ensure you can practice safely between visits.
- Portable Aids: Laura may supplement your programme with resistance bands or simple weights to ensure you are building the strength required for recovery.
- Constant Progression: This is a dynamic programme. Laura adjusts the intensity and difficulty at every visit, ensuring you are consistently challenged without being overwhelmed.
The Roadmap to Independence
Home visits are often the first step in a longer recovery journey. As your strength and confidence return, we look toward the future:
- Transition to Clinic: When you are mobile enough to travel, we can transition your care to our specialist clinic in Waterlooville. This opens up access to gym based rehabilitation, hydrotherapy, or advanced technologies like shockwave therapy and EMTT.
- Self-Management: For many, the ultimate goal is independence. We work toward a point where you feel confident managing your own exercise routine, with periodic check in appointments to review your progress and update your goals.
What to Expect at Your First Home Visit
This final practical note for the Home Visit section provides the logistical “how-to” that reassures patients and their families, ensuring the first visit is smooth and productive.
Preparing for Your First Home Visit
The goal of the initial visit is to create a safe, professional, and supportive environment for your recovery. The first appointment lasts 60 minutes, allowing Laura to get a complete picture of your health and your home.
How to prepare:
- Paperwork: Please have any relevant hospital discharge summaries, surgical notes, or current medication lists ready. These are vital for Laura to understand your clinical background and any precautions she needs to take.
- The Space: You do not need a gym. A clear area in your living room or a ground floor bedroom is usually sufficient for the assessment.
- The Process: Laura will begin with a conversation about your current difficulties and what you hope to achieve. This is followed by a physical assessment, checking your strength, balance, and movement, adapted specifically to your home setting.
By the end of this first hour:
- You will have a clear understanding of your current mobility.
- You will receive a set of safe, effective exercises to begin immediately between visits.
- Laura will provide practical advice on day-to-day management, such as how to move safely around the house and which activities to prioritise.
Pricing and Appointments
-
Initial Home Visit £99 (60 minutes)
-
Follow-Up Home Visit £104 (30 min) or £130 (45 min)
Areas Covered
- The Physiotherapy Centre 96 London Road, Widley, Waterlooville, Hampshire, PO7 5AB
- Mon: 8.00–7.00 | Tue: 8.00–7.30 | Wed: 8.00–8.00 | Thu: 8.00–7.00 | Fri: 8.00–5.00 | Sat: 8.30–1.00
- Home visits are available across Waterlooville, Portsmouth, Fareham, and surrounding areas. If you are unsure whether your location is covered, contact the clinic and we will confirm.
- Locations We Can Treat : Waterlooville, Havant, Denmead, Horndean, Fareham, Hayling Island.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a GP referral for a home visit?
No. You or a family member can contact the clinic directly to arrange a home visit. If you have been discharged from hospital recently, it is helpful to have your discharge summary available.
How far do you travel for home visits?
Laura covers Waterlooville, Portsmouth, Fareham, and surrounding areas. If you are outside these areas, contact the clinic to discuss whether a visit can be arranged.
How soon after a hip or knee replacement can I start home visits?
Most patients benefit from starting within the first one to two weeks after discharge from hospital. Early physiotherapy helps prevent stiffness, maintains the gains made in hospital, and sets the foundation for a good recovery. Contact the clinic before your surgery to pre-book your home visits.
How many home visits will I need?
This depends on your condition and how quickly you progress. Post-surgical patients typically need six to twelve visits over several weeks. Falls prevention programmes may require a shorter course. Laura will outline a realistic plan at your first assessment.
Can home visit physiotherapy be as effective as clinic-based treatment?
Yes—particularly for the conditions Laura specialises in. Home-based rehabilitation has the advantage of being carried out in the environment where you actually need to function. Exercises are practised on your own stairs, with your own furniture, which makes the rehabilitation directly relevant to your daily life.
What if I need equipment?
Laura may recommend simple equipment such as resistance bands, a balance pad, or a specific walking aid. These are inexpensive and easily sourced. For more complex rehabilitation needs, Laura may recommend transitioning to clinic-based treatment where gym equipment is available.
Is home visit physiotherapy covered by insurance?
Some insurance policies cover home visit physiotherapy. Contact your insurer to check your specific policy.
Can you help my elderly parent after a fall?
Yes. This is one of the most common reasons families contact us. Laura will assess your parent’s balance, strength, and mobility, review their home environment for fall risks, and provide a tailored exercise programme to reduce their risk of falling again.
What happens if my condition improves enough to attend the clinic?
That is the goal for many patients. Once your mobility allows, you can transition to clinic-based treatment, which offers access to gym equipment, hydrotherapy, and other treatments. Laura will coordinate this transition with the clinic team.
Can Laura liaise with my GP or consultant?
Yes, with your consent. Laura can write to your GP or consultant to update them on your progress and any concerns. This is particularly useful for post-surgical patients and those with complex medical histories.
Team