First Contact MSK Practitioner

What is a first contact physiotherapist?

Often, a FCP MSK is better able to help you with an MSK condition than a GP. 

• Quick access to expert MSK assessment, diagnosis and advice or onward referral.
• Prevention of short-term problems becoming long-term conditions.
• Improved patient experience.
• Opportunity to gain lifestyle/physical activity advice.
• Longer more in-depth appointments

Please watch this video on the role of a first contact physiotherapist 

Further information about Jan, our First Contact Practitioner is available here

Who can he help?

Our FCP MSK can help a wide range of patients:

• spinal or joint pains and stiffness, even if pins and needles or numbness is present.
• soft tissue sport or work injuries, for example sprains and strains of joints and muscles, tendons or ligaments.
• carpal tunnel syndrome, shoulder tendonitis, rotator cuff problems, Achilles tendon and foot problems.

Patients need to be aged 16 or over, and it must be a new MSK problem.

Jan is not able to see pregnant women, or women who have recently given birth if it is a problem related to back or pelvis area.

How can he help?

Advice/exercise

Jan can give advice on the best way forward for you, and how to best manage your pain or problem. Exercises are tailor made to each patient – and are demonstrated. You won’t just be handed a piece of paper. Depending on the problem, a follow up appointment may be organised.

Onward referrals

Jan can make an onward referral to Physiotherapy, Podiatry or Orthopaedics.
Jan can request X-Rays when appropriate, and can liaise with GPs regarding pain medication.

Steroid injections

The most common steroid injections are in knees and shoulders, they can be very helpful for patients with arthritis. Our FCP MSK can also give steroid injections for tendonitis, for example tennis elbow.

Our FCP MSK can offer all injections from should to fingers and hips to toes (wrists and fingers are excluded for Boyatt Wood and Eastleigh Medical Practice patients).

Before receiving a steroid injection you will be assessed for suitability. Any potential reason for not having an injection will be discussed. You will be given an information sheet to take away, read and sign before you are given the injection.