Your First Physical Therapy Session
You may not realize it but there are things you should do to prepare yourself for your upcoming physical therapy session.
It’s important and helpful for your treatment flow and progression to show up equipped with the proper information. This is especially true if it’s your first PT session.
Items to Bring to Your First Physical Therapy Session
These items are mainly required for your first PT session, but any visit afterwards could be requested for administrative purposes.
- Your ID, Driver’s License, or official identification that proves you are you.
- Your health insurance card or other insurance information. If you’re paying ‘out of pocket’, bring cash, debit, or credit card.
- Your referral or prescription for PT – Usually given by your doctor, nurse practitioner, or other healthcare provider.
- Any recent test results or medical reports from your healthcare provider related to your reason for attending PT, i.e. X-ray or MRI reports.
- Be ready to give your medical history including surgeries/procedures, allergies, and a current list of medications (including supplements) you’re taking.
Many of these items may not seem important to you, however, your physical therapist can provide more appropriate and personalized care if you provide your complete health information.
Additionally, the office administrators can perform their necessary tasks and file insurance paperwork.
Other Elements to Consider for Your PT Sessions
Certain elements can help create optimal conditions for healing and recovery on your first and all subsequent PT sessions. You might not realize that much of the outcome is within your power.
Simple acts such as choosing to wear comfortable clothing so that you can easily move around or that you can remove if necessary. You will feel less restricted.
Consider eating a snack before your appointment for energy, especially if you have low blood sugar or diabetes.
Come with an open mind. You have possibly heard biased information or misinformation about PT. People respond differently to physical therapy similar to medical treatments or procedures. Outcomes greatly depend on your effort. So, come prepared to work toward your goals and you will feel better.
Finally, the most important mindset preparation before attending PT is to be willing to learn new concepts and possibly unlearn unhealthy habits. Remember, physical therapists are movement and function experts. They may advise that the way you do certain tasks isn’t ideal, trust that information. They want you to feel better and help you achieve your goals.
The Takeaway
Choosing to prepare yourself for a physical therapy session will improve the entire process, especially on your first visit. Practice getting yourself into a positive mindset about your PT experience and learn to trust the therapist’s expertise. You have more power over your recovery than you may realize.
Physical therapy strategies and procedures provide a means to improve your quality of life. PTs create a personalized plan to help you return to your activities as soon as possible, and when you show up prepared, you’re helping your own cause.
Thanks for reading Inside Physical Therapy. This series aims to answer all the questions you may have about the inner workings of physical therapy. If you like this content, you can follow me on Medium and you’ll be notified when I publish new blogs.
If you’re a healthcare or health and wellness provider or business owner who’s in search of a content writer to help you communicate effectively with your patients or clients, fill out the contact form on my website. Tell me what your health-related business pain points are, we’ll create a content strategy that works for you.
