PhysioCentral

PhysioCentral is a physiotherapy clinic in Mosta, a large town in the centre of Malta, with a team that treats the cause of pain rather than only the symptoms. The clinic runs a strict appointment system and sees one patient at a time, so each session has room for you to explain your history, your injuries and what you hope to achieve.

It appears in our physiotherapists in Malta directory and suits residents, long-stay visitors and families who would like a central location. Mosta is a short journey from the old city described in our Mdina guide and from the capital, which makes the clinic easy to combine with sightseeing.

Approach and standards

The practitioners describe themselves as strong manual therapists and patient educators with excellent rehabilitation skills. Instead of handing out standard sheets of exercises, they devise a programme individual to you. The team works collectively, which means you can see any member of staff, even different therapists on different days, because patients are discussed regularly among them. A network of other therapists, doctors and consultants supports the clinic when a case needs wider input.

Standards matter when choosing a clinic abroad. All the therapists are qualified physiotherapists registered with the Council of Professions Complementary to Medicine in Malta, and the clinic is licensed by the Department of Health. You do not need a doctor's referral, because the physiotherapists can assess and diagnose your injury, although some insurers ask for one before they reimburse treatment.

Treatments and conditions

Three treatment routes sit at the heart of the clinic. Physiotherapy begins with a thorough history and assessment. Acupuncture and dry needling may be integrated into treatment plans to support recovery and reduce pain. Clinical Pilates is led by qualified, registered physiotherapists and Pilates instructors, either one to one or in small groups, as a safe setting for treating back and related problems.

The conditions list is broad. Musculoskeletal pain covers muscle, joint, ligament, tendon and bone injuries, and sports injuries are described as a speciality for athletes of every level. Sara Quina provides women's health physiotherapy, including pain, discomfort and incontinence. Other areas include musician and dance injuries, chronic pain, elderly care, post-operative rehabilitation after back, knee, shoulder or ankle surgery, headaches and jaw pain, and scoliosis in patients from teenagers to the elderly, including after surgery. The clinic gives no medical advice online, and your physiotherapist will explain what is right for you in person.

The named team is Samantha Bonnici, Sara Quina, Jake Fenech, Michelle Firman and Emma Jane Moore. Active visitors may want to read our Malta weather guide when planning outdoor exercise, while those looking at diet could browse nutritionists such as A New Better Life.

Your first visit

Arrive five to ten minutes before your first appointment to fill in a registration form. Bring any hospital notes, X-rays or MRI scans, and wear or pack clothing that allows the physiotherapist to examine the area; you should expect to undress to some extent, and a spare pair of shorts can help. Running shoes may be needed for sports injuries or ankle problems.

Payment is per session, with no additional fee for acupuncture needles, tape or other equipment and no clinic fee. Most private health insurers reimburse the cost once you give them receipts and paperwork, so check with your provider first, or ask a local adviser such as AIB Insurance Brokers. Some soreness can follow manual therapy and should ease within 48 hours. Walk-ins are not accepted, though the clinic will try to see people in pain as soon as possible, and the building has a lift with wheelchair-friendly treatment rooms and toilets. Internship placements are not offered.

Finding the clinic and planning a stay

The clinic is on the second floor of a building in the middle of Independence Avenue, next to the Convenience Shop and opposite R&G Hardware, just before St Sylvester's Chapel. Opening hours run from Monday to Saturday, with the phone answered on weekdays from 9 am to 3 pm. For hotels and bases nearby, see hotels in Mdina and Rabat and where to stay in Malta, and for the capital read our Valletta guide.

People moving here can read the Malta relocation guide, and our things to do in Malta page is useful as you recover. To contact the clinic, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to PhysioCentral.