What should I expect in my physical therapy session?
Physical therapy is a healthcare specialty that focuses on improving a person’s physical function while reducing pain through use of manual techniques and corrective exercises. Here’s what you can expect in a physical therapy session with us at Perform & Restore Physical Therapy:
Initial Assessment:
- The first session often begins with an initial assessment. During this phase, we gather important information about your medical history, current condition, and treatment goals.
- We will ask questions about your symptoms, the movements that aggravate or alleviate your symptoms, your daily activities, and any relevant past injuries or surgeries.
- We may perform physical tests and measurements to assess your movement patterns, muscular strength, range of motion, balance and posture.
Treatment Planning:
- Once we assess your condition and understand your goals, we will develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs.
Therapeutic Interventions:
Your treatment plan may involve some or all of the following:
- Manual Therapy: We use hands-on techniques such as joint mobilization, soft tissue massage, and stretching to address musculoskeletal issues. These techniques also include cupping and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM).
- Corrective Exercise: We prescribe specific exercises designed to improve strength, flexibility, and/or endurance. We will demonstrate these exercises to you and make sure you can perform them correctly.
- Modalities: We may recommend modalities such as heat, ice, electrical stimulation, or traction to alleviate pain and promote healing.
- Education: We guide clients on proper body mechanics, posture, and strategies to manage their condition and prevent future flare-ups or issues.
Progress Monitoring:
- We regularly monitor and assess progress in the course of physical therapy. Adjustments to the treatment plan will be made as needed to ensure that you are moving towards your goals.
Home Exercises:
- Often, we give our clients exercises to work on at home between sessions. Consistency in doing these exercises can significantly contribute to the speed of recovery.
Duration and Frequency:
- The duration and frequency of physical therapy sessions will vary depending on your treatment plan. Initially, sessions may be more frequent (once or twice a week) and as progress is made and you become more independent in managing your condition, sessions can become less frequent.
Physical therapy is a collaborative process between the client and therapist. It is very important to us to communicate with you and receive communication from you about your feelings, progress, wishes, and needs. We wish to offer you exceptional care, and we will always use all our skills and knowledge to best support you and meet your needs.
If this sounds like something you are interested in or if you have further questions, please feel free to reach out to us via your most convenient means.
