Following surgery or possibly even an injury, your doctor may recommend physical therapy which will help in restoring mobility and minimizing the symptoms you are suffering from. A physical therapist is different from your physician as they will work with you to get your body moving the way it should or as close to your baseline as possible.
Your First Physical Therapy Appointment
When you first meet with your physical therapist, you will have an initial consultation where they will go over with you what they feel needs to be worked on based on the information your physician has provided. In this consultation it is best to have a few questions of your own prepared to ensure that you are getting the most you can out of your physical therapy experience.
If you are unsure about what to ask, our Atlanta chiropractors have created a few sample questions that may help you get the answers you are looking for.
Q: How does this particular physical therapist’s specialties and experience match up with the condition in which you need treatment for?
A: If your condition is musculoskeletal related, you would want a therapist who has experience in orthopedics as they would be the best at creating a treatment plan that would best suit your needs.
Q: Will you be working with a variety of therapists or the same one for each of your sessions
A:Although you may think working with a variety would be the best option, having the same physical therapist for each session will help you build a relationship with the therapist, and secondly the therapist would be able to get to know you and be able to identify and acknowledge the progress you are making versus working with someone different every time.
Q: What type of treatment will you be receiving?
A: Physical therapy is not a one size fits all treatment. There may ice and heat therapy, strength and flexibility training, water based therapy or even sports conditioning for those athletes. Understanding that there are many different approaches can be helpful as you can discuss all the options with your physical therapist to find out which technique would work best for you.
Q: Will you be in pain after each session?
A: The goal of therapy is to work out muscles or other areas that need improvement so some level of pain is to be expected. However, if you find that each session you are struggling, speak to the therapist as they may need to adjust what is being done or the frequency in which some techniques are being used.
Set Yourself Up For Success; Call AICA Atlanta Today!
When working with your physical therapist, it is always best to follow exactly what they recommend to ensure that you are getting the most out of your sessions and so that you can maximize your healing efforts.
Our team of Atlanta chiropractors are here to answer any questions you may have in regards to physical therapy or other treatment options that you would like to explore to help manage your pain. Call us today at (404) 889-8828 to schedule an appointment!