Your First Visit

What to Expect at Physical Therapy

Preparing for your first session

While what ongoing treatment entails will differ from person to person, there are some basics that apply to everyone when it comes to what to expect at physical therapy (PT) if you’re just getting started.

For example, during your initial evaluation, your physical therapist will spend time with you to learn about your condition, your previous level of function, and how your condition is affecting your life. They will also take specific measurements of the impairments that may be causing your problem.

Information to Have Ready For Your PT

When preparing for your initial physical therapy appointment, be sure to write down the important facts about the history of your problem. By writing things down, you will be less likely to forget or miss important facts that are worth communicating.

Be sure to bring a list of your medications, some of which may cause cold sensitivity, heat sensitivity, or photosensitivity, which means they may impact your therapy.

You will also need to tell your PT about any chronic health conditions, surgeries, or procedures you have had.

Try to answer the following, which will likely be asked during your session:

When and how did your problem begin?

How well were you able to carry out daily activities like stair climbing or lifting groceries prior to your injury?

How often do the symptoms recur?

How is that problem changing?

What makes things better or worse?

What to Wear to Physical Therapy

Be prepared to move around a lot during your first physical therapy session. With that in mind, choose clothing that is easy to move around in. Many opt for workout clothes.

If you have shoulder pain, wear a shirt that allows access to your shoulder and arm. Shorts should be worn if you have hip pain, knee pain, or ankle pain.

Initial Physical Therapy Examination

After your physical therapist talks to you about your condition, they will then perform an examination. Your PT will focus on measuring impairments that may be causing your problem or that may be affected by your injury.

Common measurements taken during a physical therapy examination include:

Palpation

Range of motion (ROM) measurements

Tests of strength

Functional mobility

Balance

Neurological screening tests

Setting Up a Treatment Plan

During the examination, your physical therapist should give you a sense of what may be helping or hurting your situation. Once the exam is complete, they will discuss a treatment plan.

After your examination, your PT will have a pretty clear idea of a treatment plan to start working on decreasing your pain and improving your mobility. Your physical therapist will discuss with you the goals of treatment and the expected course of your rehab.

Your physical therapist may start treatment immediately after your initial evaluation or at your next appointment. They may use therapeutic modalities like ultrasound or electrical stimulation to help manage your pain and improve your muscle function.

Exercise is one of the staples of any rehab program. After your initial evaluation, your physical therapist will prescribe specific exercises to do on your own and provide you with a detailed printout on how to do them that you can reference at home.

Your PT will also make recommendations about how frequently to return for treatments. This will depend on factors including your pain level and current level of mobility.

Typically, you will need to come in two or three times a week, but some may only require a weekly visit. Irregular or occasional use of PT may not have the same effect as sticking with a prescribed plan and frequent sessions.

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