What is home visit physiotherapy?
Home visit physiotherapy means a physiotherapist travels to your home instead of you travelling to a clinic. You may also hear it called a physiotherapy home visit, a physio home visit, mobile physiotherapy or physiotherapy at home. It's all the same idea.
The physio brings a portable treatment couch and the equipment they need. They assess how you move, treat what they can safely treat in your space, and set you exercises to do between visits. It's the same kind of professional care you'd expect in a clinic, adapted to your living room.
It isn't a lesser version. Sessions last around an hour, so there's time to talk properly, and your physio can see how you get on with stairs, chairs, beds and bathrooms in real life.
Who is home visit physiotherapy for?
Almost anyone can book, but these are the situations we hear about most.
- After surgery. Joint replacements, ligament repairs and spinal procedures all need rehabilitation, and the first weeks are often the hardest to travel in.
- After a stroke or with a neurological condition. Practising in your own home helps skills carry over into daily life.
- Older adults. Balance, strength and confidence matter most where you live. See elderly physiotherapy at home.
- Anyone in pain. Back, neck, shoulder or knee pain can make sitting in a car or on a train miserable.
- Busy people. Parents, carers and shift workers who can't fit in a clinic slot.
- Carers. Family members who want to learn how to help safely.
- Care home residents. Our physios can visit people living in care homes and sheltered housing. See physiotherapy for care home residents.
- People with a work injury. Some of our physios are occupational health physiotherapists (more below).
Not sure whether that's you? Ask. We'd rather have the conversation.
Ready to try home visit physiotherapy? Choose a time online.
Why people choose home visit physiotherapy
People usually don't choose home visit physiotherapy because it sounds fancy. They choose it because something practical is in the way.
- Travel is the barrier. Sitting in a car with a bad back, or navigating buses on a new knee, can undo some of the good a session does. Home visit physiotherapy skips that part.
- Time is short. No travel time means a one-hour appointment costs an hour, not half a day.
- Advice fits your life. Your physio can see your stairs, your bed and your kitchen, and suggest changes that suit them.
- Family can be involved. A partner, son or daughter can sit in and learn how to help.
- It feels more relaxed. Many people talk more openly at home, and that helps your physio understand the problem.
None of this makes it right for everyone, but it explains why so many people ask for it.
How physiotherapist home visits work with FlexAura
Here's what happens on one of our home physio visits, from booking to your first exercises.
Book online
Pick a time that suits you and tell us briefly what's wrong. You don't need a diagnosis or a GP referral. If you'd prefer to talk first, you can message us on WhatsApp.
We match you with a physio
Every FlexAura physiotherapist is HCPC-registered, holds a DBS check and carries professional insurance. We verify these before anyone visits a patient.
Your physio visits
They arrive with the equipment. The first visit lasts around an hour: a conversation, an assessment, treatment where appropriate and a plan.
You get a written plan
You'll be left with a written exercise plan and practical advice.
You pay afterwards
You don't enter card details to book. You pay after the visit, online by card or bank transfer, or in cash to your physio. Your invoice shows your physio's HCPC number.
For more on the first visit, read our guide to what to expect from a home visit.
What can home visit physiotherapy treat?
Home visit physiotherapy suits most musculoskeletal and rehabilitation problems. These are the areas covered on our site.
Back pain and sciatica
See back pain physiotherapy at home and sciatica.
Knee, neck and shoulder pain
Read about knee pain, neck pain and shoulder pain.
Sports injuries
Sprains, strains and overuse problems. See sports injury physiotherapy.
Recovery after surgery
Rehabilitation after joint replacements, ligament repairs and similar procedures. See post-surgery physiotherapy at home.
Stroke rehabilitation
See stroke rehabilitation at home, or our wider guide to neurological physiotherapy.
Mobility, balance and older adults
See elderly physiotherapy at home, or read about the benefits of home physio for older adults.
We also treat hip pain, foot and ankle problems, arthritis, falls and balance, Parkinson's, MS and long-term pain. Browse the full conditions list.
Occupational physiotherapy home visits
Some of our physiotherapists are occupational health physiotherapists. They help when a problem is tied to your work or to everyday tasks: a back that went while lifting, a shoulder that flares after a day at the desk, or getting ready to go back to work after time off.
- Work-related injuries, such as back, neck, shoulder, elbow and wrist problems.
- Return-to-work plans, with graded exercises and practical advice you can share with your employer.
- Desk and lifting advice for people working from home and people in physical jobs.
- Everyday tasks at home, such as getting in and out of a chair, bed or bath more safely.
A home visit lets the physio see how you really sit, lift and move. Tell us when you book that you'd like an occupational health physiotherapist, and we'll match you with one where we can.
Occupational health physiotherapy isn't the same as occupational therapy. If you need an occupational therapist to assess you for equipment or changes to your home, contact your local council's adult social care team or ask your GP. Our physios are happy to work alongside them.
Is home visit physiotherapy safe?
Letting someone into your home is a big step, so it's fair to ask. Here's how FlexAura approaches it.
- Every physiotherapist is HCPC-registered, which you can check on the public HCPC register.
- Every physiotherapist holds a DBS check, and physios who do home visits must keep it up to date.
- Professional indemnity insurance is checked, including that it covers home visits.
- You can have a family member or friend present during the visit.
- Your invoice shows your physio's HCPC number, so you always know who treated you.
You can end the session at any time if something doesn't feel right. That's true for home visit physiotherapy and for any healthcare appointment.
Home visit physiotherapy vs a clinic: an honest comparison
Home visits and clinics both have a place, and the best choice depends on you.
A home visit is usually better when travelling is painful or tiring, you're recovering from surgery, you're caring for someone, you want advice tailored to your own space, or your schedule is tight.
A clinic may suit you better when you need equipment such as a rehab gym or specialist machines, you want imaging on site, or you enjoy getting out of the house.
Plenty of people use both at different stages. Your physio will tell you if a clinic or a scan would help. For a longer discussion, see our comparison of home and clinic physiotherapy.
How to get your home ready for a physio visit
You don't need to do much, but a few things help.
- A clear space. About two metres by two, so your physio can work and you can move.
- Comfortable clothes. Loose clothing you can move in. Shorts and a T-shirt suit most problems.
- Somewhere to sit and lie. A sofa or firm bed is fine; your physio brings a couch.
- Reports or letters. Any hospital letters, scan results or discharge notes, if you have them.
- A list of medications and anything you'd like to ask.
- Family or a carer. You're welcome to have someone with you.
Private physio at home: what a home visit costs
Private home visit physiotherapy prices vary a lot, and many providers only give a price on the phone. FlexAura's are shown openly:
| Option | Price |
|---|---|
| Online video consultation (30 minutes) | £45 |
| First home visit (60 minutes) | £110 |
| Follow-up home visit (60 minutes) | £99 |
| Five-visit package | £450 (£90 each) |
Travel and equipment are included, and each visit comes with a written exercise plan. There's no call-out charge and no cancellation fee. If you need to rearrange within 24 hours, message us on WhatsApp. You pay after the visit, by card, bank transfer or cash to your physio. Many private health insurance policies cover physiotherapy from HCPC-registered practitioners, so check yours and keep your invoice, which shows your physio's HCPC number.
See the full pricing page.
How to choose a home visit physiotherapist near me
Searching for a home visit physiotherapist near me brings up lots of options. These checks help.
- Registration. Physiotherapists in the UK must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). You can search the HCPC register to confirm a name.
- DBS check. Someone visiting your home should have a DBS check.
- Insurance. They should carry professional indemnity insurance.
- Experience. Ask whether they regularly treat your problem.
- Clear prices and a straightforward booking process. If you can't find prices, that's worth noticing.
Every FlexAura physiotherapist meets the first three, and we verify them before any visit.
Home visit physio near me: where we cover
FlexAura has local pages for eight UK cities:
Looking for physiotherapist home visits near you somewhere else? Find your town on our areas we cover list, or book with your postcode. Availability depends on which physios can reach you, and we confirm your physio and time before the visit. Many physiotherapists on the platform have same-day or next-day availability, subject to booking.