Everyone wants their physical therapy sessions to be efficient and effective, and that’s easier once you understand the expectations and get used to your program. But if you’re like us, you want your first session to be just as effective as your last, and that begins by knowing what you need to bring to your first session to get the most out of it. With that in mind, we want to use this blog to showcase some of the things you’ll want to bring to your first physical therapy appointment.
What Do I Need For PT?
If you bring all of the following to your first physical therapy appointment, you’ll be starting your program off on the right foot. Consider bringing all of these to your first PT appointment:
- Insurance Card – If you have insurance, be sure to bring your insurance card. Remember, you don’t need a referral from a physician in order to seek physical therapy. You can stop in for help whenever you believe it will be helpful, just remember to bring your insurance card.
- Comfortable Clothes – You’re going to be moving around a bit in physical therapy, so it’s a good idea to wear comfortable clothes or athletic options that won’t restrict your range of motion. We understand that not everyone comes from their house to PT, so if you’ll be coming from the office or after running other errands, make sure to pack a gym bag with comfortable clothes.
- Questions – Physical therapists are a wealth of information about your condition and best practices for treating it, so lean on them if you have any questions or concerns. Come with questions, because odds are we can answer them.
- Goals – Also, it pays to start thinking about your short-term and long-term goals prior to your first session. You may not know exactly what to expect in terms of a timeline, but start thinking about what activities or abilities you’d like to target throughout the process of physical therapy. If you’re hoping to return to the soccer field at full strength or just walk with less pain, start thinking about these goals and be ready to share them with your physical therapist.
- Imaging Results – If you have imaging results from a different provider, bring these with you or have them forwarded to our clinic so that we can see exactly what’s going on with your injury or after your surgical operation.
- Water Bottle – It may also be helpful to pack a water bottle before you head to PT. Even though these sessions aren’t all that long, drinking plenty of water throughout the day can help improve your circulation, which is helpful before and after physical therapy. Having a water bottle by your side just makes it easier to drink water at all times throughout the day.
- List of Medications – Be sure to bring a list of any medications you’re currently taking to your first PT appointment. Some medications can cause side effects that your PT will want to take into consideration when developing your rehab plan.
- A Willingness To Work – Finally, make sure you come to your appointment with the right attitude. We know that PT may not be the most fun thing in the world, but it’s a means to an end, and that end is improved physical function, so you should be excited about reaching your goals. Come with a positive attitude and a willingness to work during your session, because you’ll get out what you put in.
For more information, or to set up your first appointment with our staff, give the team at OrthoRehab Specialists 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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