If you’ve been seeing a physio for weeks but are still none the wiser about what’s wrong with you, read on…

FIRST THINGS FIRST

‘A good practitioner will want extensive details of your current injury and any previous ones,’ says running physio Mark Buckingham (wpbphysio.co.uk).

THE ASSESSMENT

Beware any physical assessment that focuses solely on the area that hurts. ‘Joints and tissues above and below it [also] need to be assessed, both passively and in movement,’ says Buckingham.

WHAT’S NEXT?

After the assessment, the physio should talk you through their findings. ‘You need a clear understanding of what the problem is and why it has occurred,’ says Buckingham. Make sure you leave armed with a plan of action or, if necessary, onward referral.

OVER TO YOU

Get paper documentation (or video footage) of any exercises, along with reps, sets and frequency. ‘You should also have guidance on the amount of running and cross-training you can do,’ advises Alison Rose from Coach House Physiotherapy in Leeds (cspc.co.uk).

LIFE SENTENCE?

‘You shouldn’t be going back for appointments week after week for months without big improvements,’ adds Rose. ‘I would want to see a change within three sessions; five, max, for a complex problem.’