If you’ve never been to physical therapy before, you probably have a lot of questions about what to expect. Read on to learn about what to expect on your first day.
Your first physical therapy appointment will be much longer than your follow-up appointments will be. Make sure you take this into account when scheduling your first appointment, to avoid being late to other responsibilities or appointments after your physical therapy session.
Your first appointment will be one on one with a physical therapist. Before you come in, they will review your doctors’ referral and any imaging or records such as MRIs or Xrays. They will also ask you about your goals and the current problems that brought you in. Physical therapists then come up with a customized home exercise program for you taking into account everything you talk about.
It’s important to dress accordingly for your physical therapy appointment. You will be moving around a lot, so be sure to wear loose clothing that doesn’t limit your range of motion. Your physical therapist will also need to be able to easily examine the injured part of your body so for example if your knee is injured, wear shorts instead of jeans or sweatpants.
Now you should be ready for your first day, but if you have any more questions about physical therapy, your physical therapist will be more than happy to provide you with answers.
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