We value our patients the most, so during your first visit with Specialized Physical Therapy, we spend time getting to know you, just like meeting someone for the first time. We don’t want to simply focus on where you feel pain. We want to understand you as a person, your lifestyle, and what you want to get back to doing. Your first visit is an important part of creating a treatment plan that is specific to your needs, goals, and recovery.
During your first visit, we may ask questions such as what caused or started your pain, what makes your symptoms better or worse, how long you’ve been experiencing them, your hobbies, your activity level, and what you are hoping to get out of physical therapy. These questions help us understand how your symptoms are affecting your everyday life. Whether your goal is getting back to exercising, playing sports, working, spending time with your family, or simply moving without pain, knowing what matters most to you helps us create a plan around your goals.
We also perform an evaluation to see and take note of what we’re working with from the beginning. This may include looking at your strength, flexibility, range of motion, balance, mobility, movement patterns, and other areas related to your condition. Establishing this baseline gives us something to compare your progress to throughout your physical therapy journey. As you continue coming to each visit, we can monitor how you’re responding to treatment and make adjustments when necessary.
Depending on your condition, symptoms, and information gathered during your evaluation, treatment may also begin during your first visit. This can include exercises, stretching, manual therapy, mobility work, or other techniques that are appropriate for your individual needs. Everyone responds differently to treatment, so we pay attention to what works for you and what may need to be adjusted.
Your first visit isn’t about expecting you to know everything or having all the answers. It’s about getting to know you, understanding your symptoms, evaluating how you’re moving, and creating a plan to help you reach your goals.
At Specialized Physical Therapy, our goal is to make you feel comfortable throughout your recovery while giving you the tools and support you need to improve. If you’re ready to take the first step toward feeling better and getting back to doing what you love, contact Specialized Physical Therapy today to schedule your first visit!