Brewer Physical Therapy

What Will My First Physical Therapy Appointment be Like?

Physical Therapy
You are experiencing pain and have booked your first physical therapy appointment at Brewer Physical Therapy. (Don’t actually have an appointment booked yet? Click Here to schedule a visit today!). You might be asking yourself, “What will my first appointment be like?” Fortunately, this is one of life’s great mysteries that actually has an answer.
­­­                                    ­ ­

How do I Come Prepared for My First Physical Therapy Appointment?

First off, it is important to wear comfortable clothes that allow you to move easier. It is also beneficial to have a good, supportive pair of shoes—athletic sneakers. This will help to ensure that your appointments go as smoothly as possible. Heading to your physical therapy appointment from work? No problem. The clinic or office can also provide an area for you to change into comfortable clothing.
­­­
As with most healthcare visits, you should also come prepared with:
    • A photo ID
    • A list of your medications
    • Your medical history, your insurance card
    • The prescription from your MD—if you have it

Before your appointment, brainstorm any questions you might have for the physical therapist. You will want to arrive at the clinic about 15 minutes early for your appointment. This will allow you time to complete your initial paperwork and provide us with any extra information. Your first appointment will last somewhere around 60 minutes. However, the time it may take can be shorter or longer depending on the clinic and your specific needs.

Don’t hesitate to call Brewer PT with any other questions you may have about specific scenarios.

­­­

Do I Need a Prescription for Physical Therapy?

Louisiana has Direct Access to Physical Therapy. This means that you can go straight to PT without seeing an MD first. Furthermore, while we are in-network with most insurance companies, Brewer Physical Therapy clinics also have an option for cash-pay if you do not have medical insurance. Brewer PT has 4 convenient locations:

Contact your nearest physical therapy clinic to find out more about our policies and payment process.

­­­

What Should I Expect at My First Visit?

At your first appointment, the physical therapist will look at your medical history and check your flexibility, strength, balance, and endurance. They will also assess your posture, alignment, and pain levels to get an overall idea of your physical health. Following this initial evaluation, the therapist will provide a personalized plan for recovery. You might even dive right into some exercises aimed at addressing your particular issues. The physical therapist will go over the exercises with you to teach proper form. Additionally, the therapist may provide hands-on treatment. This usually involves ice, heat, ultrasound, soft tissue mobilization, manipulation, dry needling, and/or electrical stimulation.
­­
TENS
Image by TonoDiaz via FreePik

During this first visit, you will learn more about your injury from the physical therapist. Using the information, they will then explain your expected recovery timeline. This will determine how many future appointments you will book as you head out of the office.

Leaving already? Hand out some high-fives and get ready for your next PT appointment. Click the link below to comment what you learned at your first PT visit.

­­­Comment with questions or requests!

 

This article is brought to you by Brewer Physical Therapy. At Brewer PT, we take a personalized, one-on-one approach to your care. For one thing, you’ll always have the option to see your physical therapist. We take the time to get to know you and your challenges. This helps us to track your progress week-by-week and partner with you on your road to recovery. For more information, contact us today!

Brewer Physical Therapy