Concierge physiotherapy · UK
Physiotherapy for muscular aches - treated at the cause.
A chartered MSK physiotherapist, a proper assessment and diagnosis, and an exercise-led plan with honest session numbers - not an open-ended course of rubs. Seen within days, anywhere in the UK.
Why patients choose us
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A chartered MSK physiotherapist, first time
HCPC-registered, CSP-chartered physiotherapists with genuine musculoskeletal caseloads - not a generalist squeezing you between post-op knees. Assessed properly on day one.
- 02
Diagnosis before treatment, always
Muscular pain has a cause - overload, posture, weakness, a joint or nerve referring pain into muscle. We insist on a working diagnosis and a plan, not an open-ended course of massage.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation - physio, imaging first, or a consultant opinion instead - is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What private physiotherapy costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our partner clinics. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options, with cover checked.
In short
Initial assessment in our network: £65–£130, seen within 2–5 working days.
| Session | Indicative range | Typical duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial physiotherapy assessment (45–60 min) | £65–£130 | 45–60 min | Plan same visit |
| Follow-up treatment session (30 min) | £50–£95 | 30 min | Same visit |
| Extended follow-up (45–60 min) | £70–£120 | 45–60 min | Same visit |
| Block of 6 sessions (prepaid) | £270–£520 | 30–45 min each | Over 4–8 weeks |
| Home-visit physiotherapy | £90–£160 | 45–60 min | Same visit |
| Shockwave therapy add-on (per session) | £60–£120 | 10–15 min | Course of 3–5 |
| Sports or deep-tissue massage (adjunct) | £45–£90 | 30–60 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by city, by the clinic and by the physiotherapist’s seniority - central London and clinical-specialist physiotherapists sit at the top of the range. Blocks of sessions usually bring the per-session price down. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
The right diagnosis, the right dose, and an end date you can see.
Muscular pain is where private therapy quietly under-delivers - passive treatment with no diagnosis, no progression, no discharge plan. We fix all three before you book.
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Is it actually muscular?
Joints, nerves and inflammatory conditions all refer pain into muscle. Assessment sorts this out before a single treatment is booked.
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Exercise first, hands-on second
The evidence is clear: graded exercise changes outcomes; passive treatment alone rarely does. Your plan is built that way round.
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A session count, agreed up front
Most muscular problems need 4–6 sessions. You get an estimate on day one and a formal review by session three - never a rolling booking.
The journey
From enquiry to discharge - what happens, in order.
One named physiotherapist from first message through assessment, treatment, progression and discharge.
Phase 1 · Before your first session
Triage, matching, booking
Phase 2 · First session
Assessment and treatment
Phase 3 · After
Progression, discharge
- 01
Before
You tell us what hurts
A short, confidential form. Where the ache is, how long, what brings it on, what you have tried, and what you want to get back to.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: the right physiotherapist for your problem, an indicative price, and - if red flags or a likely non-muscular cause appear - a different route entirely.
- 03
Before
Booking, usually within days
First assessments are typically available within 2–5 working days across our network, including evenings and some weekends.
- 04
Before
Anything to bring is confirmed
Previous imaging, GP letters or a list of medications if relevant. Wear or bring clothing that lets the area be examined - shorts for legs, a vest for shoulders and back.
- 05
First session
Assessment and first treatment
45–60 minutes. History, movement testing, strength and palpation, a working diagnosis explained in plain English - and treatment starts in the same session.
- 06
First session
Your plan, in writing
You leave with a home exercise programme (usually on an app), advice on load and activity, and an honest estimate of how many sessions you need.
- 07
After
Follow-up, progression and discharge
Follow-ups of 30 minutes to progress exercises and treatment. Most muscular problems need 4–6 sessions. If you are not improving by session three, the plan changes - or we escalate.
Typical start: 2–5 working days from enquiry to first assessment. Typical course: 4–6 sessions over 4–8 weeks.
When it helps
When physiotherapy is the right step.
The muscular problems we see most, plus the one red flag that means urgent medical review rather than a physio booking.
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Neck and shoulder muscle tension
Desk-driven trapezius and levator scapulae pain, tension-type headaches, stiffness that builds through the working day.
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Low back muscular pain
Non-specific low back pain - the most common muscular complaint in the UK - with no nerve symptoms, responding well to movement and graded loading.
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Muscle strains and tears
Hamstring, calf, quad or groin strains from sport or a sudden effort - graded rehab prevents the classic re-injury cycle.
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Overuse and tendinopathy-related ache
Aching around tendons and muscle from training spikes, new jobs or repetitive tasks - load management is the treatment, not rest alone.
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Recurrent aches that keep coming back
Pain that settles and returns because the underlying weakness or movement habit was never addressed. Rehab targets the cause.
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Post-exercise or deconditioning pain
Aches after returning to activity following illness, surgery or a sedentary spell - a structured, graded programme rebuilds tolerance safely.
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Fibromyalgia and widespread pain support
Physiotherapy-led graded exercise and pacing is a core, evidence-based part of managing widespread muscular pain.
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Red flag: pain with fever, weight loss or night pain
Constant night pain, unexplained weight loss, fever, or pain after significant trauma is not a physio booking - it needs urgent medical review first. We route you there.
Treatment options
What good physiotherapy actually includes.
What each element involves - from the assessment that everything rests on, to hands-on treatment, exercise rehab and the adjuncts worth paying for.
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Assessment and diagnosis
The most valuable 60 minutes. Movement, strength and neural testing to establish what the pain generator is - muscle, joint, nerve or referred - and rule out red flags.
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Exercise rehabilitation
The core of modern MSK physiotherapy. Progressive strengthening, mobility and control work, individually dosed and progressed session by session.
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Manual therapy
Soft-tissue release, trigger-point work, joint mobilisation. Useful for short-term relief and to unlock movement - always paired with exercise, never a standalone fix.
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Load and activity management
Adjusting training, desk setup, lifting and daily habits so tissue is loaded enough to adapt but not enough to flare. Often the real cure.
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Shockwave therapy
Focused acoustic waves for stubborn tendinopathy-related pain (plantar fascia, Achilles, tennis elbow). A course of 3–5 sessions alongside rehab.
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Acupuncture and dry needling
Offered by many of our physiotherapists as an adjunct for muscular trigger points and short-term pain relief.
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Taping and bracing
Short-term support to offload an irritable muscle or tendon while rehab builds capacity underneath.
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Onward referral where needed
If assessment points to a joint, nerve or inflammatory cause, we arrange imaging or a consultant opinion rather than persisting with the wrong treatment.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of physiotherapists, we picked them.
Chartered MSK physiotherapists and clinical specialists across London and the major UK cities. Introductions are made privately, once we understand your problem.
Selection criteria
How we choose every physiotherapist in our network.
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HCPC-registered, CSP-chartered physiotherapists with dedicated MSK caseloads
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Evidence-based, exercise-first practice - no open-ended passive treatment courses
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Direct pathways to imaging and consultant MSK opinion when assessment demands it
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First appointments within a week, with evening and weekend availability
Safety and recovery
What to expect - honestly.
Physiotherapy is one of the safest treatments in medicine. The things worth planning are the diagnosis, the exercise dose, and the point at which the plan changes if you are not improving.
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Physiotherapy is very low risk
The most common side effect is 24–48 hours of post-treatment soreness after manual therapy or new exercises - normal, and it settles.
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No referral needed
Physiotherapists are first-contact practitioners. You can self-refer privately - no GP letter required, though we loop your GP in if you wish.
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Expect to work
Modern physiotherapy is active. The evidence for exercise-based rehab is far stronger than for passive treatment alone - your home programme is where results happen.
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Honest session numbers
Most muscular problems improve meaningfully within 4–6 sessions. A good physiotherapist discharges you with a plan - not a rolling weekly booking with no end date.
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Not improving by session three?
That is a decision point, not a reason to persist. The diagnosis is revisited, imaging considered, or a consultant opinion arranged.
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Manual therapy cautions
Deep soft-tissue work is adapted or avoided over areas with poor circulation, active infection, recent injury, or if you take strong blood thinners. Tell your physio.
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Shockwave and needling exclusions
Shockwave is avoided in pregnancy, over metal implants at the site and with certain blood-thinning medication. Dry needling is always consented separately.
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When physio is the wrong tool
Inflammatory arthritis, bone pathology, nerve compression with weakness - these need medical management first. Assessment exists to catch them.
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Red flags after starting
New numbness, weakness, bladder or bowel change, fever, or rapidly worsening night pain needs same-day medical review - not the next physio session.
Reading your assessment report
Your report in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever clinic you attend, the report your physiotherapist writes after the first assessment keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Clinical shorthand can read coldly - we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the assessment findings and the plan before your next session, just ask.
- 01 Header
Diagnosis and problem list
The working diagnosis in plain terms - which muscle groups or structures are driving the pain, and any contributing factors identified.
- 02 Findings
Objective assessment findings
Range of movement, strength testing, palpation findings and any special tests - your measurable baseline for tracking progress.
- 03 Plan
Treatment plan and exercise programme
What will be done in clinic, your home programme, the expected number of sessions and how progress will be measured.
- 04 Impression
Prognosis and escalation criteria
Read this first: the honest expected timeline, what recovery looks like, and the agreed point at which imaging or a consultant opinion is triggered instead.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Physiotherapy is covered by most UK health policies, though many insurers cap the number of sessions and some require a GP referral first. We confirm cover and session limits before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about physiotherapy for muscular pain.
Quick answers on referrals, session numbers, cost, and how physiotherapy differs from massage.
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Do I need a GP referral to see a private physiotherapist?
No. Physiotherapists are first-contact practitioners in the UK, so you can book privately without a referral. Some insurers still require a GP or consultant referral before they will fund sessions - we check your policy wording before you book so there are no surprises.
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How many physiotherapy sessions will I need for muscular pain?
Most straightforward muscular problems improve meaningfully within 4–6 sessions over four to eight weeks, with the home exercise programme doing much of the work between visits. Long-standing or recurrent pain can take longer. A good physiotherapist gives you an estimate at the first session and reviews it honestly at session three.
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How much does private physiotherapy cost in the UK?
Typically £65–£130 for an initial assessment and £50–£95 for follow-ups, with London clinics at the top of the range. Prepaid blocks of six commonly run £270–£520. Home visits, shockwave and adjuncts such as sports massage cost extra. We confirm firm figures for two or three clinics within one working day.
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What is the difference between physiotherapy and massage for muscle pain?
Massage treats symptoms - it eases tension and feels good, but it does not diagnose or fix the cause. Physiotherapy starts with an assessment and diagnosis, then combines hands-on treatment with a progressive exercise programme that changes the strength, control or load problem underneath. For pain that keeps returning, that difference matters.
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Can I get physiotherapy on the NHS instead?
Yes - NHS physiotherapy is available via GP referral or self-referral in many areas, and it is good. The constraint is waiting time (commonly 6–12 weeks or more) and shorter, less frequent sessions. Going privately mainly buys speed, session length and continuity with one named physiotherapist.
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Should I rest a muscular ache or keep moving?
For most muscular aches, relative rest - staying active while temporarily reducing the aggravating activity - beats complete rest, which weakens muscle and delays recovery. The skill is in the dose, which is exactly what a physiotherapist calibrates. Complete rest is only right in the first day or two after an acute strain.
Related treatments
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Knee physiotherapy
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Clinical Pilates
Physio-led Pilates for control and strength.
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Massage therapy
Soft-tissue work as an adjunct to rehab.
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All tests & procedures
Every test and procedure we arrange.
Learn more