If you’ve scheduled your first physical therapy appointment, congratulations on taking the first step in becoming a stronger version of yourself. Whether you’re excited or a little nervous about this appointment, you’re probably wondering what you need to bring with you to your first session. In today’s blog, we highlight 10 things that we hope all first-time clients bring with them to their first physical therapy appointment.
What Should I Bring To My PT Appointment?
It’s likely that the scheduler you talked to covered a few things you should bring to your first physical therapy appointment, but here’s a quick list of some of the helpful items you’ll want to bring to your initial appointment.
- Insurance Card – There’s a good chance your health insurance provider will cover some or all of the cost of your appointment, so you’ll want to bring your health insurance card with you to your first appointment.
- Completed Paperwork – Sometimes a physical therapy clinic will mail you the initial paperwork or allow you to print off the forms you need to fill out ahead of time. If you have any paperwork that you’ve already filled out, bring that to your appointment. If not, expect that you’ll be filling out some paperwork once you arrive, so bring a pen and get there 10 minutes early so you have time to fill it out before your appointment.
- Prescription Information – Bring a list of prescription medications and dosage amounts if you are currently taking any medications.
- The Right Clothes – You’re going to be moving around a bit during your appointment, so wear clothes that are appropriate for the activity. Activewear, sportswear or something light and breathable are usually a good option.
- Your Calendar – Your PT will want to get your next sessions on the book, so bring your calendar or whatever you use to plan your upcoming schedule so that you can book your next appointments before you leave.
- Assistive Devices – If you are being seen after an injury or surgery and are currently using any assistive devices like crutches, a wheelchair or a sling, be sure to bring these aids with you to your appointment. This will help the PT develop a routine that suits your needs and limitations.
- Claims Information – If you are in the process of collecting a workers’ compensation or personal injury claim, bring your claim number if one has been provided to you.
- Water Bottle – Staying hydrated will help your muscles function more optimally, so fill up a water bottle and bring it to your first appointment with you.
- Medical History – We don’t expect you to have your complete medical records with you, but it may be helpful to have a list of any health issues that run in your family or dates of previous injuries and surgeries. This helps us understand your risk profile and ensure we develop a PT routine with your medical history in mind.
- The Right Attitude – Finally, one thing we definitely want you to bring to your first appointment is the right attitude. We always say that when it comes to physical therapy, you get out what you put in. If you are willing to put in the work, we promise you’ll be rewarded for it. Please come in with the mindset that PT will be successful if you really commit to the program.
If you can bring all of these things to your first physical therapy appointment, we’re confident that you’ll be starting off on the right foot. For more information, or to set up your first appointment with the team at OrthoRehab Specialists, give our team a call today at (612) 339-2041.
PT of Costa Rican National Soccer Team for 2007 World Cup in Victoria, CAN. Clinical Instructor for University of Minnesota Doctor of Physical Therapy Affiliations
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