Physiotherapy Overview: What to Expect at Your First Appointment

Are you getting ready for your first physiotherapy appointment?

Starting physical therapy is exciting. Whether you’re in pain or you’re looking for preventative care, you know that you’ll be on the way to a healthier lifestyle. But what should you expect from your first appointment?

Your first physical therapy appointment won’t be that exciting. You won’t be getting into a lot of the more “intensive” treatments, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not important.

Keep reading to learn all about your first physiotherapy appointment.

Assessment and Exam

As with any other medical facility, when you enter the physical therapy clinic and meet your physical therapist, they’ll begin by doing a preliminary exam to determine your current condition.

Before the physical exam begins, they will take your health history and ask you some basic questions. They may ask about how often you exercise, your diet, if you use drugs or alcohol, and whether you’re using any medications or other medical services.

After this, they’ll begin a physical exam.

They’ll ask about why you’re seeking treatment. You may be seeking treatment to prevent injuries, relieve pain, or recover from an accident. This is important information for the physiotherapist so they can come up with an appropriate treatment plan. Make sure to tell them your goals.

After this, they may have you do simple stretches and exercises to determine your level of mobility and where you’re experiencing pain.

Treatment Suggestions

After they’re done with the exam, you’ll start working together on figuring out the best physiotherapy plan.

Most physical therapists offer a variety of treatment options. They can all work alongside any medications that your doctor has prescribed you. The physical therapist may offer deep tissue massage, exercises, stretches, heat therapy, ultrasounds, and even aquatic exercise or therapy.

You may try a variety of treatment options before you find the right one for you, but this is a good time to talk to your physical therapist about whether or not one specifically interests you.

How to Prepare

With all of this in mind, you might be wondering how you should prepare yourself for your first appointment.

You need to make sure that you are availing of the service from trained and certified physiotherapists. Make sure that you thoroughly research your options and book an appointment with the best physiotherapist in Singapore. 

First, make sure that you have any health documents and insurance documents on hand. You’ll need them when your physical therapist is making their initial assessment. It’s also helpful to bring a written list of questions for your physical therapist.

Make sure that you dress in comfortable clothing that you can move around in. Dresses, skirts, and tight or rigid clothing aren’t good for your appointment.

Make sure to arrive early in case you need to fill out any paperwork before your appointment begins.

Are You Ready for Your Physiotherapy Appointment?

Your first physiotherapy appointment is on the horizon! Don’t worry, the first appointment is easy. You’ll get to know your physical therapist, discuss your concerns, and take a brief physical assessment. Then your real treatment can begin!

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