If you develop an illness or suffer an injury that causes pain or difficulty with functional mobility, you may benefit from the skilled services of a physical therapist. Our physical therapist can assess your specific situation and provide focused treatments and exercises to help you return to your previous level of function.
Your first session with your physical therapist is called an initial evaluation. During this session, your physical therapist will spend time with you to learn about your condition, your previous level of function, and how your condition is affecting your life. They will then take specific measurements of the impairments that may be causing your problem and put together a treatment plan for you.
Booking Your Evaluation
When you first contact our physical therapist to set up an evaluation, don’t be afraid to ask if they’ve treated your condition once before. This includes a complete understanding of the drugs you are taking, some of which may cause cold sensitivity, heat sensitivity, or photosensitivity.
Don’t be shy about asking about costs. Be sure to confirm that the PT accepts your insurance. If you don’t have insurance, ask for an email copy of the list of services with the current price structure.
Preparations
When preparing for your initial physical therapy appointment, be sure to write down the important facts about the history of your problem. By writing things down, you are less likely to forget or miss important facts. Try to answer the following:
- When and how did your problem begin?
- What was your functional mobility status prior to your injury?
- How often do the symptoms recur?
- How is that problem changing?
- What makes things better or worse?
Our PT will likely ask you some questions about your injury or illness. Be sure to bring a list of your medications and any surgeries or procedure you have had in the past.
Setting up a Treatment Plan
After your examination, our PT will have a pretty clear idea of a treatment plan to start working on decreasing your pain and improving your mobility. Your physical therapist should discuss with you the goals of treatment and the expected course of your rehab.
Our physical therapist may start treatment after your initial evaluation. They may use therapeutic modalities like ultrasound or electrical stimulation to help manage your pain and improve your muscle function.
ApexNetwork PT will also make recommendations about how frequently to return for treatments. Many rehab programs consist of twice or thrice weekly visits. Sometimes, sessions are done once a week. Your specific program will depend on variable factors including your pain level or current level of mobility.
When embarking on a treatment plan, ask the PT what improvements you can expect to achieve over a certain period of time. Be optimistic but have realistic goals.
We are here for you.
If you are suffering from an orthopedic injury or condition, it’s crucial to find an experienced and caring orthopedic team to help you get better. Our therapists can help resolve your pain and teach you how to prevent it from recurring: https://apexnetworkpt.com/request-an-appointment/
Medically reviewed by Laura Campedelli, PT, DPT
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