Initial Assessment at The Physiotherapy Place
Is it your first time coming to physiotherapy? If it is, you might not be sure what to expect from your appointment and we understand it can be daunting. To help, we have written some information on what you should expect from your first visit with us, as well as some advice on what you can do to get the most out of your appointment.
What will happen in your Physiotherapy Assessment?
The After booking an appointment with us either online or over the phone, you will be sent a couple of emails. One of these will include a link to an online intake form. You should fill this out prior to attending the clinic. This allows you to tell your physiotherapist briefly about why you are coming in for an assessment. It is also useful to note any relevant medical history or what medications you are on.
When you come to the clinic, you will be welcomed in to the reception area before being called into one of our private treatment rooms by your physiotherapist. Your initial assessment will last 45 minutes, including treatment.
Your physiotherapist will start by having a thorough discussion with you to get a history of your condition/injury, what makes your pain better or worse, how this is impacting on your daily life, work and hobbies, and your goals for treatment. Following this discussion, your physiotherapist will conduct a physical examination. This will involve several tests and could assess your range of movement, muscle strength, balance and palpating the affected area. If your issue is nerve related, your physiotherapist may assess your reflexes and skin sensation.
Once your assessment has been completed, your physiotherapist will discuss their findings and suspected diagnosis, giving an estimated timeline of recovery. They will also advise you on what you should or shouldn’t do, giving you recommendations on things like hot and cold.
Then it is time for treatment. Your physiotherapist will discuss treatment options with you so that you can jointly come to a decision about what is right for you. Here at The Physiotherapy Place, we offer a range of treatments, including but not limited to, joint mobilisation, massage, Gunn IMS and acupuncture. Click here to see a list of all the treatments we provide, as well as additional information on each treatment.
Your physiotherapist will also go through exercises with you that can you do at home. These will be emailed or printed for you so you don’t have to try and remember them off the top of your head. We use an online program to create your individually tailored exercise plan, and you can download an app which allows you to see video demonstrations of your exercises.
If any follow ups are required, your physiotherapist will discuss this with you and an appointment can be booked for you at the end of the session.
Our helping hands will make you feel welcome
How can you prepare for your first appointment?
We want to make sure you are fully prepared for your appointment so you can get the most out of the time you have with your physiotherapist. Below are some of our top tips:
Fill out your online intake form before the appointment.
Arrive on time for your appointment.
To allow your physiotherapist to have access to the area affected, please come dressed appropriately or bring items to change into. If you have an issue with your legs, hips or lower back, we advise you to wear shorts. If your upper back, neck, shoulders or arms are affected, wearing a thin strappy vest is ideal. We do have spare shorts in the clinics if you forget.
If you take any medication, it would be helpful to bring a list to show your physiotherapist if you haven’t already included this in your online intake form.
It is helpful for you to bring any operation notes (following a surgical procedure) or investigation results (such as scans or blood tests) that may have been carried out before your appointment.
If you have questions you want to ask, we recommend making a note of these before the appointment, either on paper or on your phone, so you don’t forget anything and you can go through this list with your physiotherapist.
Children must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at appointments.
You are welcome to bring a family member, friend or carer to attend the appointment with you.