Arthritis Treatment in the City of London
Arthritis causes pain, stiffness and sometimes swelling in the joints. The most common type, osteoarthritis, often affects the knees, hips, hands and spine. There’s no cure, but the right treatment and exercise can ease pain and help you stay active. At the Thrive4Life Wellbeing Centre in the Lloyd’s Building, EC3, our physiotherapists and osteopaths help you manage it.
What we treat
- Osteoarthritis of the knee, hip, back and neck
- Joint pain and stiffness
- Arthritic and rheumatic pain
- Pain and stiffness linked to normal age-related changes in the joints
- Rehabilitation after joint replacement surgery
How we treat it
Your practitioner will ask about your symptoms and what you’d like to be able to do, examine the affected joints, and agree a plan with you. Treatment can include:
- Gentle hands-on treatment: soft tissue massage and joint mobilisation
- Medical acupuncture (dry needling) for pain relief
- Exercises to strengthen the muscles around the joint and keep it moving
- Advice on staying active, pacing and managing flare-ups
Arthritis is treated by our chartered physiotherapists Laure Walter and Kurt Walker, and by our osteopaths Simon Chafer and Hollie Lindsay. If you’ve had pain for many months, Pain Reprocessing Therapy may also help.
If you have, or may have, an inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis, you also need care from your GP or a rheumatologist. Our treatment can work alongside it.
Prices and insurance
Physiotherapy and osteopathy appointments are £80 for 30 minutes, first or follow-up. Both can be claimed on most private medical insurance; see the physiotherapy and osteopathy pages for which insurers each practitioner works with, and our full price list.
When to get urgent help
Get urgent medical help the same day if a joint suddenly becomes hot, red, swollen and painful, especially if you feel unwell or have a fever.
Where we are
The Thrive4Life Wellbeing Centre is in the Lloyd’s Building, One Lime Street, London EC3M 7HA, a few minutes’ walk from Bank, Monument, Fenchurch Street and Aldgate. We’re open Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm, and you don’t need to work at Lloyd’s: we’ll arrange a visitor pass when you book. See how to find us.
Who you’ll see
Frequently Asked Questions
Can physiotherapy or osteopathy help arthritis?
Yes. They can’t reverse arthritis, but treatment and the right exercises can ease pain and stiffness, improve movement and help you keep doing the things you enjoy.
Should I exercise if I have arthritis?
Yes, in most cases. Regular, suitable exercise helps keep joints moving and the muscles around them strong. Your practitioner will show you which exercises suit you and how to build them up.
Which joints do you treat?
Any joint, most often knees, hips, the back, neck, shoulders and hands.
Should I see a physiotherapist or an osteopath for arthritis?
Either can help, and there is a lot of overlap. Physiotherapy puts more weight on rehabilitation exercises; osteopathy is mainly hands-on and looks at the whole body. If you’re not sure, call us on 020 7327 5341 and we’ll point you to the right person.
How much does arthritis treatment cost?
Physiotherapy and osteopathy appointments at the Thrive4Life Wellbeing Centre are £80 for 30 minutes, first or follow-up.
Can I claim on private medical insurance?
Yes, for physiotherapy and osteopathy, with most private medical insurers. Which insurers you can use depends on the practitioner; see the physiotherapy and osteopathy pages. Check with your insurer whether you need a GP referral or an authorisation number first.
Do I need a GP referral?
No, you can book directly. Some insurers ask for a GP referral before they’ll pay, so check with yours first.
Do I need to work at Lloyd’s to book?
No. Anyone can book. Tell us when you book and we’ll arrange a visitor pass; bring photo ID on the day. See how to find us.