What's the difference between physiotherapy and manual therapy?

Physiotherapy works primarily actively: you move yourself while we correct, dose and build up strength, stability and coordination. Manual therapy is an additional qualification and targets blocked or restricted joints — with targeted hand movements on the spine and limbs to restore joint play. The form stated on the prescription is decided by the referring practice; we often combine both within one series.

What happens during manual lymphatic drainage?

Using gentle, rhythmic pressure, we stimulate the drainage of tissue fluid and direct it towards the lymph nodes. This is typically prescribed after surgery, for swelling following injuries, or for lymphoedema. Compression garments are often part of the treatment to help maintain the result — please bring bandages or stockings to your appointment.

What is equipment-based physiotherapy?

A medical strength-building programme using cable machines, leg press and pulley systems, which requires its own prescription. We create a training plan based on your assessment, guide you through the exercises and gradually increase the load. A session lasts around 60 minutes. This is particularly useful after surgery, for long-standing back problems, and for rebuilding strength after sports injuries.

When is a home visit possible?

If you're unable to visit the practice for health reasons, your doctor can explicitly note a home visit on the prescription. We will then treat you at home or at a care facility. Since travel ties up fixed time slots, home visit appointments are limited — please ask early about availability in your area.

How quickly can I get an appointment?

This depends on the treatment type and time of day. Early morning and late afternoon slots are in highest demand. Call us with your prescription in hand, and we'll find the right series together. If the prescription states a frequency such as twice weekly, we'll schedule the appointments as a block right away.

What should I bring to my appointment?

The original prescription, your insurance card, comfortable clothing and a towel. Reports from surgery, rehab or imaging help with our assessment, but aren't required. For your first appointment, please allow a few extra minutes, as intake and assessment take time.

Services | Physiopraxis Nord

Initial assessment at the start of every prescription

Billing handled directly with your statutory health insurer

Home visits when getting to the practice isn't possible

Request an appointment by phone or via the form

Which therapy applies is set out on your prescription – the doctor's practice determines the treatment type and number of sessions. In the initial assessment, we look at what lies behind it: mobility, strength, pain, everyday life. From this we develop a treatment plan, which we discuss with you and adjust as we go.

Our services

Six forms of treatment, one treatment plan

Often, several treatment types appear on one prescription and build on each other: first release, then move, then load. Each form of treatment has its own page with details on the process and areas of application.

Physiotherapy

Active and passive exercises for mobility, strength and coordination – after surgery, for back pain and following injuries. You'll also receive exercises to do at home.

Standard treatment time: 15–25 minutes
Remedy code: KG

Manual therapy

Targeted hand techniques on joints, muscles and fasciae for blockages and restricted mobility – for example in the cervical spine, shoulder or knee.

Standard treatment time: 15–25 minutes
Remedy code: MT

Lymphatic drainage

A gentle hand technique that drains congested tissue fluid – after surgery, for swelling and for lymphoedema. Bandaging can be applied afterwards on request.

Treatment time: 30, 45 or 60 minutes
Remedy code: MLD

Massage

Classic massage techniques to relieve tension in the neck, shoulders and back. Often used as preparation to make subsequent movement therapy easier.

Standard treatment time: 15–20 minutes
Remedy code: KMT

Equipment-based physiotherapy

Training therapy on cable pull, leg press and ergometer – with a training plan and guidance from our team. Suitable for building strength after a longer period of rest.

Duration per session: around 60 minutes
Remedy code: KGG

Home visits

Treatment at your home or care facility if a visit to the practice isn't possible. This requires a doctor's note on the prescription.

Area: Kiel and surrounding areas
Requirement: Note on prescription

Two approaches in therapy

Move actively, release passively

Most treatment plans combine both: what's released during treatment needs to be moved afterwards so the effect lasts.

Active therapy: physiotherapy and equipment-based training

Here, you do the work. We correct movement patterns, increase the load step by step and give you an exercise programme for home. On the equipment, this is measurable: resistance levels, repetitions and settings are recorded in the training plan and adjusted as you progress.

Rebuilding strength after surgery or a longer period of inactivity
Training plan with documented settings
Equipment session lasts around 60 minutes
Exercises for home, fitted to your daily routine

Training area with cable machine tower, leg press and ergometer in a physiotherapy practice

Passive therapy: manual therapy, massage and lymphatic drainage

Here, our hands do the work. Joints are mobilised, tense muscles are released, congested fluid is moved away. Passive treatments often come first – they create the mobility and freedom from pain that makes active exercise possible in the first place.

Manual therapy for restrictions and limited movement
Massage for tension in the neck, shoulders and back
Lymphatic drainage sessions of 30, 45 or 60 minutes
Often prescribed to prepare for the active session

Process

How a treatment works with us

Whether physiotherapy, manual therapy or lymphatic drainage: every course of treatment follows the same structure with us. A session lasts 20 to 30 minutes depending on the prescription, while equipment-based physiotherapy takes around 60 minutes including warm-up and cool-down. Please bring your prescription, comfortable clothing and, if available, doctor's reports or imaging results.

Step 1

Initial assessment

In the first session, we record your symptoms: since when, in which situations, how severe. We then check mobility, strength and joint play, and compare the findings with your doctor's diagnosis. Together, these form the treatment goal, which we agree with you.

In the first session, we record your symptoms: since when, in which situations, how severe. We then check mobility, strength and joint play, and compare the findings with your doctor's diagnosis. Together, these form the treatment goal, which we agree with you.

Prescription and costs

Prescription and billing

Almost all of our services require a doctor's prescription — the prescription lists the treatment type, number of sessions and often a frequency. How billing works depends on your insurance status. We check the prescription at your first appointment and tell you in advance what to expect.

Statutory health insurance

Please redeem your prescription within the deadline stated on the form, otherwise it expires
Statutory co-payment: 10 percent of treatment costs plus a 10 euro prescription fee, payable at the practice
With a valid exemption certificate from your health insurer, the co-payment is waived
Home visits and prescriptions outside the standard case are also billed through your health insurer

Private or self-pay

Billing according to the standard fee schedule for privately insured patients, invoice by post or email
Reimbursement by your insurance or allowance scheme depends on your tariff — please check with them in advance
Massage and equipment-based physiotherapy can also be booked as a self-pay service without a prescription
We'll provide you with prices in writing before your first appointment

Good to know

Frequently asked questions about our services

These points come up most often before the first appointment. If your question remains unanswered, feel free to give us a call — we'll clarify in advance whether your prescription matches our range of services.