Seeking treatment from a physical therapist can be appear intimidating at first. Any time you enter a medical office for the first time, you may have a variety of questions and concerns regarding what to expect from your experience. While anything that is new can initially seem like a scary process, this does not need to be the case, specifically if you are seeking services from your physical therapist in Cody, WY.

What Will Happen During Your First Visit

When visiting your physical therapist for the first time, be sure to bring all the necessary paperwork with you to your first appointment. This would include documents related to your referral to services, as well as any pertinent information that your physical therapist could find useful in regards to treating you. Please have your insurance card handy, as this will be a requirement in order to receive services.

During your initial intake, you will be asked to fill out a brief medical history. This is done so the practitioner has a fuller understanding of your medical needs, and will be better prepared to assess any potential medical issues that you may be dealing with.

Your physical therapist will ask you what level of pain you are experiencing, as well as what aggravates this condition and what eases your level of pain. Your practitioner will also ask what types of activities bring on this level of pain, and will ask you how this is impacting your daily activities. Your therapist will also ask you to list some goals for your treatment plan, as they will want to work with you towards your personalized plan for recovery.

Objective Evaluation

Your physical therapist will likely perform a series of evaluations in order to better determine what level of treatment is required. This may include a range of motion test, where your therapist will move the joints to determine the quality of movement and if there are any restrictions. They may also perform a palpitation test to check for the presence of tenderness, swelling, and inflammation.

Additionally, your therapist may perform a neurological screening to see how your nerves are communicating with your muscles, as this can be a major component in regards to your level of pain. As a part of this, your reflexes may be assessed. A practitioner may also decide to perform a series of special test in order to rule out any other potential problems that may be contributing to the issue.

All of these tests are done to assist the physical therapist in deciding what level of treatment and what types of treatment are necessary. A plan will be formulated between the practitioner and the patient, to ensure that the quality of treatment meets the individual needs of the patient.

If you are in need of physical therapy, or have questions about what physical therapy consists of, contact North Platte physical therapy today and we will be happy to assist you with your first steps towards recovery.