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What to Expect at Your First Physical Therapy Visit

October 29, 2024

Your First Visit: Step by Step

Starting physical therapy can feel uncertain, especially if you've never been before. Here's what a typical first visit looks like at Complete Care Clinic so you can walk in prepared and confident.

Step 1: Intake and History (10-15 minutes)

You'll fill out paperwork covering your medical history, current symptoms, medications, and goals. If you were injured in a car accident or at work, bring any relevant documentation, claim numbers, or attorney contact information.

Step 2: Physical Evaluation (30-40 minutes)

Your therapist will assess your movement, strength, flexibility, and pain patterns through hands-on tests. This isn't a workout. It's a diagnostic session to find the root cause of your problem.

Step 3: Treatment Plan Discussion

Based on the evaluation, your therapist explains what's going on, how long recovery typically takes, and what your treatment plan will include. You'll get a clear timeline with measurable goals.

Step 4: Initial Treatment

Most patients receive some hands-on treatment at their first visit, such as manual therapy, gentle stretching, or pain-relief modalities like heat or electrical stimulation.

Step 5: Home Program

You'll leave with 2-3 simple exercises to do at home between visits. These take about 10-15 minutes and are designed to reinforce what was done in the clinic.

At Complete Care Clinic, we offer same- or next-day appointments. Call us to get started.

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