What to Expect on Your First Visit

What to Expect on Your First Visit
By Robyn Bingham, Kassimir Physical Therapy Staff

New physical therapy patients often wonder how long they can expect to be in treatment. Understandably, the prospect of a prolonged treatment process brings about a great deal of questions, and most patients are anxious for a concrete answer as to how long the recovery process will take.

When you arrive for your first appointment, your therapist will assess your condition. After the assessment, your therapist will be able to give you a personalized answer regarding what you can expect from your treatment process. While they may be able to estimate the expected duration of your treatment, it is difficult to provide a definite answer so early on in the process, as there can be unanticipated events or factors that may influence your recovery. It is important to remember that recovery is different for everyone, and that while you may experience setbacks, this is normal and is no reason to get discouraged. Progress rarely takes the form of a single, straight, upward moving line, but this does not mean that recovery is impossible, or that your efforts are futile. There is no time limit on your progress, and your health is worth any amount of time it may take to improve.

That being said, here are some ways to increase your chances of a smoother, faster recovery:

Be consistent – If your therapist recommends two to three treatments a week, stick to the recommended regimen as best you can. Regular treatments allow your therapist to monitor your progress and adjust your treatment plan as necessary.

Complete your home exercise program – Recovery is not restricted to what takes place inside the clinic. Your therapist will provide you with some exercises to complete at home that will help facilitate your recovery on a daily basis. Your therapist or a trained technician will go over the exercises with you to make sure you are comfortable executing them independently, but always be sure to ask questions about any exercises you are unsure about. Also, if you feel severe pain while completing any exercise on your own, discontinue the exercise and discuss it with your physical therapist during your next treatment.

Ask questions – All of the staff at your physical therapist’s office are there to help you have the best recovery possible. If you have any questions about your treatment plan, your exercises, your condition, or anything else pertaining to your physical therapy needs, feel free to ask your therapist, who will be happy to help you understand anything that may be unclear. No question is too insignificant to ask, so ask anything that helps you illuminate your recovery process!

We hope you find these tips helpful, and we wish you the best of luck in your physical therapy experience. Feel free to contact Kassimir Physical Therapy at 410-415-5905 if you have any further questions about physical therapy or are interested in setting up an appointment.