First Visit At A Physiotherapist’s - What You Need To Know

The first visit is one of the most important elements of the whole therapy. In this meeting I can find out more about you, your work, hobbies, how you spend your free time, how much stress you experience in your daily life, etc. It probably won’t come as a surprise, but all of the aforementioned factors are of great importance for the physiotherapy process. The reason for that is the fact that the repetition that occurs every day in our activities, the stress we feel, the way we eat cause tension in our fascial system which often provokes pain.

But hold on. Do you really come to a physiotherapist for conversations about your passions? What about pain-related questions?

Actually, that’s where I should have started. During the first interview I ask questions about the pain, its type, duration and location.

The well-collected data allows me to make the first hypothesis about the actual problem and helps greatly in the diagnostic process. The functional test that follows, helps to confirm the hypothesis. So try not to cheat your therapist! In the interview even the smallest detail can make a difference. So don’t be surprised if, in addition to asking about your current ailments, I’ll ask you about:

• injuries, operations that have occurred in the past (it often happens that the oldest injury is the most significant one),
• ailments related to the digestive system and the abdominal area,
• scars,
• chronic condition/long-term disease
• taken medication

How to prepare for the first visit?

If you have had specialist diagnostic tests, such as an MRI, X-ray, ultrasound or blood test, it is good to bring them with you. Assessment of these can be very helpful in the entire diagnostic process. It is also worth taking a change of comfortable clothes. 

See you in the office!