First visit: How to be your physio's favorite patient

Your first physical therapy appointment is coming up. Get your clothes, documents, and any questions you want to ask ready. Our article on how the evaluation works also explains what to expect.

How Can You Best Prepare for Your First Physical Therapy Appointment?

When preparing for your first physical therapy appointment, be sure to wear appropriate clothing and bring any relevant medical records. Also, allow some time before and after your appointment.

1. Choose clothing that allows you to see the painful area and monitor your movements. For shoulder pain, a tank top may be appropriate. For back pain, wear loose-fitting pants and, if needed, a sports bra. For knee pain, choose pants that are easy to pull up.
2. Please bring any available documents related to your pain: X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results, a doctor’s prescription, and a list of medications.
3. Allow one hour for the evaluation, plus 15 to 20 minutes to fill out forms and schedule follow-up appointments. Confirm the estimated duration when you make your appointment.

What questions will your physical therapist ask you during your first visit?

Your physical therapist will ask you about your pain, your needs, your goals, and your expectations during your first visit. Thinking about these topics will help you describe what matters to you.

1. How does your pain behave?

Your physical therapist is trying to understand what makes your pain worse or better. Make a note of the movements, positions, and activities that affect your pain. Also, pay attention to any differences between the morning and the evening.

Keeping a journal of your activities and symptoms can help you describe these changes. This information allows your physical therapist to tailor their assessment and treatment plan.

If the pain is worrying you, tell your physical therapist. In people with persistent muscle or joint pain, fear of movement is associated with greater limitations in daily activities.¹ In a small study on neck pain following an injury, a supervised resumption of feared movements reduced that fear.²

2. What are your needs?

Your needs may go beyond pain relief. A convenient schedule, privacy, or clear explanations may also be important to you. Letting your physical therapist know what these are will help them tailor your care.

Examples of requirements to be specified

• Flexibility or evening hours for follow-ups
• Confidentiality and Privacy
• Approach (if you have had a good or bad experience in the past, you can indicate what you liked or disliked)
• Understanding of the specific characteristics of a sport or activity
• Feeling heard and reassured
• Feeling motivated, having close follow-up
• Understanding and having what's happening explained to you

You can ask for explanations about your pain and your treatment. In a trial following a car crash, an educational video was added to the usual care for a neck injury. Participants who had watched the video reported a greater reduction in pain. The effect on persistent symptoms remained unclear.³

3. What are your goals?

Your goals provide direction for your treatment. They may relate to an activity, your work, or your family life.

Pain relief is important, as are the activities you want to resume. The following questions will help you clarify your priorities.

• Why is pain relief especially important to you right now?
• Does it prevent you from doing something you enjoy? What makes this activity important in your life?
• Does it limit you in your role with your family, your job, or your friends?
• Does your problem make you feel tired or irritable?

Help us understand what kinds of activities you'd like to see.

Your expectations regarding recovery are also part of the discussion. Among workers with persistent back pain, expectations regarding recovery were associated with a return to work.⁴ They do not alone determine your progress.

4. Do you have specific expectations for your physiotherapist?

Your expectations help the physical therapist determine the priorities for the appointment. Describe your ideal appointment right from the start.

You can ask for explanations, exercises, or advice on how to relieve pain at home. You can also ask that part of the session be devoted to relieving your pain.

The appointment time is an opportunity to discuss the priorities you choose together. Tell your physical therapist what matters most to you.

Your physical therapist will help you choose activities that are appropriate for your condition. For recent back pain with no specific cause, continuing your usual activities within the limits of your pain may help. In one study, this approach led to a faster recovery than bed rest or specific mobilization exercises.⁵ This result applies to the program studied; your physical therapist will tailor the exercises to your needs.

References

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1. Luque-Suarez A, Martinez-Calderon J, Falla D. The role of kinesiophobia in pain, disability, and quality of life among people with chronic musculoskeletal pain: a systematic review. Br J Sports Med. 2019;53(9):554-559. (Back to section: 1)
2. de Jong JR, Vangronsveld K, Peters ML, Goossens ME, Onghena P, Bulté I, et al. Reduction of pain-related fear and disability in post-traumatic neck pain: a replicated single-case experimental study of in vivo exposure. J Pain. 2008;9(12):1123-34. (Back to section: 1)
3. Brison RJ, Hartling L, Dostaler S, Leger A, Rowe BH, Stiell I, et al. A randomized controlled trial of an educational intervention to prevent chronic pain associated with whiplash-related disorders following rear-end motor vehicle collisions. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2005;30(16):1799-807. (Back to section: 1)
4. Schultz IZ, Crook J, Meloche GR, Berkowitz J, Milner R, Zuberbier OA, et al. Psychosocial factors predictive of occupational low back disability: toward the development of a return-to-work model. Pain. 2004;107(1-2):77-85. (Back to section: 1)
5. Malmivaara A, Häkkinen U, Aro T, Heinrichs ML, Koskenniemi L, Kuosma E, et al. The treatment of acute low back pain—bed rest, exercises, or ordinary activity? N Engl J Med. 1995;332(6):351-5. (Back to section: 1)