Physical therapists are experts in treating conditions relating to pain, musculoskeletal injury, functional mobility and rehabilitation. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Most people don’t know that physical therapy (PT) is not limited to only outpatient muscle and joint injuries but it also includes inpatient care such as in the ICU, surgical wards and home care.
Patients often get referred to the PT clinic by their doctors or surgeons if they need specialized care in one of these areas. And only some of them know what to expect or do during their first visit.
This article is for the people who don’t know how to prepare for a PT clinic.
Here, we’ll cover all the things that you should know for your first PT visit which is usually the evaluation session. We’ll also discuss what the signs of a good physical therapist are so you know the kind of service you should be getting.
Here’s What You Need to Know for Your First PT Appointment
Let’s dive right into the topic. Here’s the list of the things you can expect from your first physical therapy appointment:
1. Bring Necessary Documents
You should always bring your medical records, lab reports and scans to your first appointment at the physical therapy clinic.
Bring them even if your hospital records were sent over to your physical therapist’s office by your doctor or surgeon. Sometimes the system is down, other times there are other issues that make your electronic records inaccessible so having the documents with you can come in handy.
Another thing to do before your visit is to write down any questions you have about your condition.
Some common questions patients ask include the medical explanation behind the pathology, the recovery window, what the restrictions will be – if any – after rehabilitation and so on.
The first visit with the physical therapist is often a bit overwhelming, and so you might forget some of your questions. That’s why it’s best to write them down beforehand.
2. Initial Evaluations Can Take a While
Physical therapy assessments are lengthy. There is no definitive time for it because it varies from patient to patient and therapist to therapist.
Most clinics have set time slots for appointments and usually, your assessment will be as long as that. You can always call ahead and ask how long the appointments are or ask the receptionist at the PT office.
Your physical therapist will begin by asking you questions, also known as taking your history.
The questions are generally related to your current condition but may also include information regarding your lifestyle, eating habits and routine activities.
Also, be prepared to fill out an assessment form(s).
These generally include details of your condition, location of the injury, previous history, mobility status and lots of information that your physical therapist might need to plan your treatment regimen.
The assessment also includes testing, moving your arm and legs, checking your muscle strength, range of motion and taking down all the measurements. Something these might seem a bit excessive but physical therapists need that information to establish a baseline.
You should know that sometimes assessments can take more than one appointment. That’s normal and may even be a necessity for some cases. Just communicate with your physical therapist and ask them whatever questions you have regarding the assessment.
3. Seeing Results Might Take a While
Since this is your first PT visit, don’t expect to see any results.
It’s not entirely impossible to see some improvement in your condition after the first session, but it is highly unlikely. Physical therapy rehabilitation can be a long and slow road for some people. So be prepared for this when you first visit your physical therapist.
4. What Should You Wear To A Physical Therapy Appointment?
This is a question we get a lot. For all your PT sessions you should wear something comfortable in which you can easily move around.
Tight clothes or even loose jeans are generally not preferred since your physical therapist will have to move your joints in various directions and tight clothing can be restrictive.
As a rule of thumb, workout clothes are the best bet.
You should also be able to easily remove your clothes should you need to, although that is not usually required. For example, if you’re coming in with a wrist issue then you don’t have to worry about what kind of shoes you’re wearing. So depending on your condition, just make sure that your clothing isn’t a hindrance.
5. Treatments Vary Between Patients
This is an important point to understand before your first PT visit.
Physical therapy treatments are highly personalized for individual patients – well, most of them are. Just because your condition is the same as someone else’s doesn’t mean that you’ll get the same treatment.
I see this most commonly in post-surgical patients coming to the clinic after hip or knee replacement surgeries. They tend to look at other recovering patients and expect the same treatments.
Each patient or client has different goals, different baseline and different abilities to do the exercises. That’s why physical therapists design individualized treatment regimens and progress accordingly.
If you’re curious then feel free to ask your physical therapist why you’re not getting a certain exercise, or why you’re not seeing the results as someone else.
For example, some patients receive electrotherapy treatments (which are completely safe) during their PT sessions. But those are not necessary for everyone. So you might not get them even if a patient who is in a similar situation as you is getting them.
Hence, it’s usually best not to go to your first PT appointment with a certain treatment protocol in mind because you’ve seen someone else recover from it. Let your physical therapist assess you first and work with you to develop the appropriate treatment plan for you.
It’s usually best not to go to your first PT appointment with a certain treatment protocol in mind because you’ve seen someone else recover from it.
6. You’ll Get a List of Home Exercises
You’ll likely get a list of exercises to do at home at the end of your first PT visit. These are important to follow and your progress might depend on how well you follow them.
Your physical therapist will also explain to you in detail why they’re prescribing them to you. And also demonstrate the exercises so you understand them better.
I recommend you write down the frequency and the number of repetitions that your physical therapist recommends because it’s common to forget about the little details.
Most PT regimens have twice or thrice weekly sessions with the physical therapist. The rest of the rehab is done at home with these home exercises.
You should ask your physical therapist questions about the home program if you have any. Some questions can be
- What improvements can I expect from these?
- How long will I have to do them for?
- What happens if I mess up the routine?
- Can I harm myself by doing this wrong?
- How do I get in touch if I need immediate help?
Related: Here Are the Signs That Mean It’s Time for You to Visit a Physical Therapist
Sign Of a Good Physical Therapist
A good physical therapist is critical to your recovery. So while you’re at your first few sessions with a new therapist, these are the qualities you should be looking for to know if s/he is a good fit:
1. Your Physical Therapist Educates You
Patient Education is a big part of PT treatments.
If your physical therapist isn’t taking the time to explain the whys and hows of your condition and treatment then you need to talk to them about it or change your physical therapist.
It’s their responsibility to explain your home exercise program and daily activity precautions to you so you can be safe when you’re not under their supervision.
2. Your Physical Therapist Provides You with Supplementary Material
Supplementary material means any information, charts, links to medical literature and exercise sheets for home. Not all patients want this extra information so most physical therapists won’t volunteer the materials. But they should provide you with these if you ask them.
3. Your Physical Therapist Has Good Bedside Manner
There is more to being a physical therapist than having good patient outcomes.
Appropriate bedside manners are also quite essential. It helps both the physical therapist and the patient if both of them can communicate easily, share concerns and answer questions.
Your rehabilitation journey will become much less stressful when your physical therapist is cooperative. A good therapist listens to your concerns attentively and values your input.
4. Your Physical Therapist Tracks Your Progress
All physical therapists track their patient’s progress one way or another because they have to for legal purposes and documentation or charting.
But a good physical therapist vigilantly tracks your progress. That’s helpful because this data tells you and your physical therapist what’s working and what’s not.
Your progress – or the lack thereof – guides your physical therapist about making adjustments in your treatments.
Progression of exercise intensity is a vital component of PT. And only a good physical therapist that keeps a close eye on your improvements can make changes in your treatments at the right time.
5. Your Physical Therapist Includes You in Treatment Planning
Creating a treatment plan in PT is a collaborative process involving the physical therapist and the patient. Some physical therapists tend to be set in their ways and don’t value the patient’s input. That’s a bad sign.
A good physical therapist will consider your goals when devising your treatment plan. The purpose for that is to get you to your end goals rather than work towards some arbitrary goals.
Patient participation also improves when they are included in the planning stage. That in turn improves adherence to the program and the clinical outcomes. And good physical therapists know that.
Wrapping Up
Visiting the PT clinic for the first time can be daunting. But it’s nothing to be scared of. By knowing what to expect you can prepare for it. And also know what warning signs to look out for.
The most essential thing for you to know is that your physical therapist is there to help you. You should feel comfortable with him/her. Ask questions about things you don’t understand and stick with the prescribed program to see results.
