How Does It Work?
The consultation starts with history, because most diagnoses are made from what you describe rather than from what a scan shows. How the problem began, what makes it better and worse, how it behaves across the day and night, and what you need to get back to are all mapped before hands are laid on anything.
Physical examination follows: movement testing, strength, joint range, neurological screening where symptoms suggest it, and palpation. The purpose is to reproduce your symptom and identify the structure responsible, rather than to confirm a label you arrived with.
Any imaging you bring is reviewed in context. Scans frequently show age-related changes that are present in people without symptoms, so a report mentioning disc degeneration or a small tear does not automatically explain your pain. Being told what a finding does and does not mean is often the most useful part of the visit.
You leave with an explanation you can repeat to someone else, a realistic timeline, and a written plan. If physiotherapy is not the right answer, or if a referral or further investigation is needed, you are told that directly.
Types/Variations We Offer
Initial assessment: the full appointment, typically forty to forty-five minutes.
Second opinion consultation: for patients weighing up recommended surgery who want an independent view.
Review consultation: reassessment and progression of an existing plan.
Online consultation: for report review, exercise progression and second opinions where travel is difficult.
Conditions Treated
Advantages & Expected Benefits
A clear explanation of your diagnosis in language you can repeat to your family
Independent interpretation of MRI and X-ray findings in the context of your symptoms
A written plan with a realistic timeline rather than an open-ended course of visits
Honest guidance on whether physiotherapy is likely to help you at all
No referral required, and reports are reviewed at the first visit
Direct advice on whether a surgical opinion is warranted
Potential Risks & Short-term Side Effects
Some examination movements briefly reproduce your symptoms, which is how the source is identified
Mild soreness after a thorough first examination, settling within a day
Contra-Indications / Precautions
This treatment may not be suitable for individuals with:
- •Signs suggesting a medical emergency, including loss of bladder or bowel control, saddle numbness or rapidly progressing weakness, which require immediate hospital assessment rather than a physiotherapy appointment
- •Suspected fracture, infection or malignancy, which is referred for medical investigation before treatment begins
- •Chest pain, breathlessness or symptoms suggesting cardiac involvement, which are referred urgently
- •Unexplained weight loss, fever or night pain, which prompts medical referral before manual treatment
What to Expect in a Session
History: onset, behaviour, aggravating and easing factors, medical background, medication, and what you specifically want to return to.
Examination: movement, strength, range, neurological screening where indicated, and palpation to reproduce and localise your symptom.
Investigation review: any scans or reports you bring are read alongside the examination findings rather than in isolation.
Explanation: what is wrong, why it happened, what the realistic timeline looks like, and what will and will not help.
Plan: written, including the home programme, expected number of visits, and the point at which the approach would be reconsidered.
Evidence & Clinical Guidelines
Clinical guidelines for low back pain consistently advise against routine imaging in the absence of red flags, because incidental findings are common and can lead to unnecessary intervention.
Patient education and reassurance are recommended components of first-line management for most musculoskeletal conditions, and understanding the problem is associated with better engagement in rehabilitation.
Structured examination remains central to musculoskeletal diagnosis, since imaging findings correlate poorly with symptoms in many spinal and shoulder presentations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a doctor referral to book?
No. You can book directly. Bring any X-rays, MRI scans or reports you already have, along with a list of your current medication.
My MRI shows a disc bulge. Does that mean I need surgery?
Not on its own. Disc bulges are common in people with no pain at all, and the report has to be interpreted alongside your symptoms and examination. Many disc-related presentations settle with conservative treatment.
What if physiotherapy is not the right treatment for me?
You will be told so at the first visit, along with what would be more appropriate and who to see. There is no benefit to either of us in starting a course of treatment that is unlikely to help.
How long is the first appointment and what does it cost?
Around forty to forty-five minutes, at Rs 400. It includes the full assessment, review of your reports, the explanation and your initial home programme.
Need More Information?
Our expert physiotherapists are here to answer any questions you may have about Consultation and Counselling.
Medically Reviewed
This content was reviewed for medical accuracy by Dr. Surabhi Bansal, BPT, MPT (Ortho) with 14+ years of clinical experience.
At Modern Physio, all medical content undergoes a thorough review process to ensure accuracy and alignment with current physiotherapy standards. Our content is created to educate and should not replace professional medical advice. Learn more about our review process.