What to Expect at Your First Physical Therapy Appointment

Jan 17, 2023

The unknown can be stressful, but knowing what to expect can ease uncertainty around your first physical therapy appointment and help put your mind at ease about your appointment and therapy. Let's discuss how to prepare for your appointment, meeting your physical therapist, understanding your treatment plan, and the role of your physical therapist in your overall care.

Preparing for Your Appointment

Bringing the right documents to your first appointment will allow us to bill your insurance company and provide the best care. Bring a photo ID, your health insurance card, and a list of your current medications to your first provider.

Additionally, if you're using any orthotic or assistive devices like a walking boot, sling, cane, scooter, or walker, be sure to bring those to your appointment as well.

Wear loose-fitting clothing that makes it easy to access the area of the body the physical therapist will be treating. If the physical therapist needs to access an area of your body that your clothing doesn't allow, he or she will provide a gown. You can change in a private area before your treatment begins.

Meeting Your Physical Therapist

During your first appointment, your physical therapist will introduce themselves and take time to learn more about you. They'll ask questions about your illness or injury and about your medical history. They'll conduct an initial evaluation, measuring strength, range of motion, and pain levels, and document findings. Then, they'll work with you to set treatment goals. Treatment goals might include reducing pain, improving range of motion, or increasing strength.

Finally, your therapist will provide treatment, which might include guided stretches or exercises, ultrasound, ice, or other interventions. Some components of your treatment may be uncomfortable, but any pain you experience should be manageable with good communication between therapist and patient. Too much pain during your treatment is counterproductive, so we aim to accomplish treatment goals without causing excessive pain.

Understanding Your Treatment Plan

During your appointment, your physical therapist will develop a customized treatment plan. Your treatment plan might include:

exercises or stretches
application of ice or heat
massage, ultrasound, dry needling, laser therapy, or other interventions

Some treatments are provided by a physical therapist during your appointments, while others can be performed at home. Many are done in both places - during your appointments under the direction of a physical therapist and then one or more times a day at home, in between appointments.

As your strength and range of motion increase, your physical therapist will monitor your progress and adapt your treatment plan. Your stretches, exercises, and treatments may change as your condition improves.

You'll receive a print-out of your home exercise plan so you remember which exercises to do, how to do them, how often you should do them, and how many reps you should do to ensure progress.

The Role of the Physical Therapist

Physical therapists are musculoskeletal experts. Your physical therapist's role is to examine your body to better understand underlying issues, and then develop and implement a treatment plan to improve your mobility, reduce your pain, restore your ability to function, and prevent disability. He or she will communicate with your primary care team and/or any specialists to ensure the best outcomes.

To learn more, contact us today.