What Happens at Your First Physical Therapy Visit?
Physical therapy is a healthcare profession that helps people of all ages recover from injury, disease or disability. It can improve or restore movement and function to the highest possible level, reduce pain and help prevent the onset of new problems. It can also assist with the management of long-term health conditions and chronic illnesses. Your first visit will begin with post-surgery rehabilitation therapist examining you and asking questions about your symptoms, how well you move or do everyday tasks and what other medical issues you have. After this, your PT will create a treatment plan that includes your goals for the session and any exercises or other treatments that you should do to get there.
After your evaluation, you'll have some time to talk about your health concerns and what the PT for pain has told you about your condition. They'll also give you some exercises to do at home that can help improve your overall physical fitness. These are mainly designed to improve your mobility, coordination and muscle strength, says Reddon. It's important to follow your PT's instructions at home and make sure you are doing these exercises regularly so that you can get the most benefit from them. Discover more facts about PT at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_therapies. You will likely spend about an hour at your initial appointment, says Reddon.
The PT will assess your needs, ask you about the symptoms you're experiencing and explain the benefits of physical therapy. They'll also perform several functional tests and a variety of other assessments to help them understand your condition. Your physical therapist will then develop a comprehensive treatment plan that includes specific exercises, massages and other treatments to help relieve your pain and increase the range of motion in your affected areas. They can also provide you with information about how to maintain your progress at home and encourage you to stay committed to your treatment plan.
During your time with the PT, they may use some or all of the following techniques:
Manual therapy: This involves using hands-on methods to stimulate or break down tissue. It can be used to relieve pain, promote blood flow and release scar tissue. It can also be used to improve your posture, balance and flexibility. Soft tissue mobilization: This involves working with your muscles and joints to loosen them up and reduce the risk of further injury. It can be used to treat a range of muscle and joint problems, including sprains, strains, backaches and arthritis.
Electrotherapy: This involves using electrical currents or ultrasound to help with pain relief, increase range of motion and strength, and improve circulation in your injured area. This technique is particularly effective for arthritic patients and those with muscle weakness.
Other types of therapy include hydrotherapy and aquatic therapy, which uses water to reduce inflammation, decrease swelling and relax muscles. This type of therapy is usually recommended for people who have recently had surgery or are recovering from an illness, accident or injury. Physical therapists work with patients of all ages, from infants to seniors. They are specially trained to help children with developmental disorders and adults who have suffered physical trauma, such as a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injuries or strokes. They can also work with those who have Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome or other neurological disorders.
