PhysioPoint

PhysioPoint is the rehabilitation arm of Da Vinci Health, a multidisciplinary health centre in Birkirkara. It is a purpose-built rehabilitation centre where physiotherapists, doctors, consultants and other healthcare professionals look after both inpatients and outpatients, and where imaging is available within the same group.

For UK readers weighing up care in Malta, it is a useful example of the integrated model: the physiotherapy team can draw on medical colleagues in the same organisation rather than referring patients across town. PhysioPoint appears in our physiotherapists in Malta directory, and the centre is located in the busy central town of Birkirkara, a short drive from Valletta.

The centre and its approach

The centre has individual private treatment rooms, the latest therapeutic equipment and a digital radiology service that includes an MRI scanner. Its homepage also mentions a CT scanner. Having scans available on site can shorten the wait between assessment and a clear diagnosis, which is helpful for people recovering from orthopaedic problems and sports injuries.

The philosophy is functional: every pain has a source, and the aim is to find it. The physiotherapists try to understand how the whole body works and how one problem can load another part of it. They then help you change how you use your body, giving you the knowledge, control, flexibility and strength to move in ways that load the body efficiently. Results are best when patients take an active role in the treatment programme, and PhysioPoint treats people from their twenties to their seventies and beyond, whether the pain is acute, chronic or post-traumatic.

Therapists and qualifications

All of the physiotherapists are experts in the physical diagnosis of movement impairments, hold postgraduate master's degrees in various fields and are certified instructors with the Australian Pilates Physiotherapy Institute. They work as a team and consult each other on cases, supported by Da Vinci Health's wider group of medical specialists. The team has over 30 years of combined practice and provides guidance on lifestyle changes and pain management strategies.

Josef Pace, the Rehabilitation Director, qualified as a physiotherapist at the University of Malta in 2001. His main interest is musculoskeletal physiotherapy, and in 2007 he gained a master's degree in orthopaedic medicine from Middlesex University in London, with research focused on shoulder injuries. He also holds certifications in acupuncture and diagnostic ultrasound biofeedback, and he is a modified Pilates instructor.

Rehabilitation services

Eight service areas are listed: sport injury rehab, post-operative rehab, orthopaedic rehab, neurological physiotherapy, paediatric therapy, cognitive training, human performance and exercise physiology. Together they cover a spectrum from a footballer's hamstring strain to recovery after a joint replacement, support for a child with a movement difficulty and training for people who want to perform better.

PhysioPoint's articles discuss topics such as carpal tunnel syndrome, Bell's palsy and shoulder pain, which shows the range of presentations the team sees. Pages like these are educational, and a physiotherapist will advise on your own situation. If you would like to talk to someone before booking, the centre offers a telephone consultation to help work out whether physiotherapy is what you need. Insurance forms and cover are covered on the website, so ask about them when you enquire.

Nutrition often forms part of a recovery plan, and if you wish to look at independent specialists, our directory includes A New Better Life among nutritionists. For health cover enquiries in Malta, AIB Insurance Brokers is another listing worth a look.

Appointments, hours and planning

The centre is open Monday to Friday from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm and on Saturday from 8.00 am to 1.00 pm. The number of sessions depends on the condition: a single visit with advice and a tailored exercise programme may be enough for some people, while others need an intensive course. A plan is agreed at the first consultation, along with an idea of how long rehabilitation will take. Wear comfortable clothing that is easy to remove, because the examination looks at the whole body and sometimes the whole back.

Birkirkara is a short drive from the capital, described in our Valletta guide, and from the old capital, covered in our Mdina guide. If you are staying for a while, see where to stay in Malta, the Malta relocation guide, the Malta weather guide and things to do in Malta. To ask PhysioPoint a question, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to the team.