What Happens During Your First Physiotherapy Session?

Starting physical therapy can be reassuring when you know what to expect. The initial session is dedicated to understanding your condition, testing your mobility, and establishing a safe recovery plan.

Step 1: Discussion and History Review

The session begins with an in-depth conversation. We discuss:

• The onset, duration, and nature of your pain or discomfort.
• Your daily activities, job ergonomics, and sleep habits.
• Relevant medical records, surgical notes, or imaging reports.
• Your personal goals (e.g. climbing stairs pain-free, returning to sport).

Step 2: Physical Evaluation

We then perform a structured movement check:

• Range of Motion (ROM): Measuring how far your joints can move.
• Strength Testing: Checking for specific muscle weaknesses or side-to-side imbalances.
• Functional Movement: Observing how you stand, walk, bend, or squat.
• Palpation: Checking for localized swelling, tenderness, or muscle guarding.

Step 3: Creating Your Plan

Based on the assessment, we discuss your recovery roadmap:

• The potential root causes of your symptoms.
• Recommended frequency of sessions and expected recovery timeline.
• Specific exercises and manual techniques to be used.
• A personalized home exercise program to maintain progress between sessions.

Wearing comfortable, loose clothing that allows easy movement of your joints is recommended for this appointment.