Preparing for Your Visit

What to Know Before Your Visit

• Patients should wash their hands or use hand sanitizer before and after each visit.
• Only patients can use gym equipment.
• Cell phone use is not allowed in the gym or treatment areas.
• To ensure your therapist can provide a comprehensive evaluation and the best care, please arrive at your session five to 10 minutes early. If you are more than 15 minutes late we may need to reschedule your appointment.

Payment/Insurance Information

Verify your rehabilitation benefits with your insurance company before your appointment. This includes cost of copays and number of visits permitted.

What Should I Expect at My First Visit?

Your first visit is a time for your physical or occupational therapist to do a complete evaluation, learn more about your health, and set your treatment plan. This may include:

• Assessing your vital signs (like blood pressure and heart rate) to get a baseline of your physical level of function  
• Reviewing your medical history and diagnosis tests if available
• Asking you questions about yourself, condition/injury, limitations, your lifestyle, and goals for therapy  
• Performing a hands-on physical assessment to assess joint, muscle, or tissue abnormalities  
• Performing an assessment of your functional deficits and pain level, and take measurements to better understand your limitations  
• Discussing their findings and, with your input, creating personalized treatment goals  
• Giving you exercises to do at home or provide you with strategies to improve specific issues  
• Scheduling follow-up visits for a designated amount of weeks  

What Happens at My Next Visit?

Please bring your appointment slip each time you come to therapy. When you enter the waiting room, check in and then have a seat. If you wait longer than 10 minutes past your appointment time, please let the front desk staff know.

At your follow-up visits:  

• You will work with a team (often two therapists), as well as support staff, who will provide you with exercises  
• Your therapist may do some manual therapy if indicated  
• Your treatment may include ice, heat, or other modalities accompany by exercises  
• Throughout your treatment your therapist may recommend lifestyle changes or recommend assistive devices

You will likely have one to two visits per week for a period of time, depending on the plan of care and your progress toward goals. 

How Many Weeks Does Therapy Last?

Your therapist will let you know the length of therapy based on your unique condition. This will be discussed with you as you go through therapy. The goal of physical therapy is for you to learn how to manage your problem and become independent with your home exercise program so that you can continue to progress and heal.

Your primary therapist will recheck your progress throughout your time in physical therapy and update your plan of care approximately every 30 days to work toward a plan for discharge.

What Happens if I Miss an Appointment?

Your therapist will work with you to create a plane of care that you both agree on. In order to have a successful outcome, regular attendance and commitment to doing your home exercise program is important. If you do need to miss an appointment, your therapist will call to review the plan and discuss your care plan moving forward.

Your Responsibility

PT/OT works best when you are an active participant. We are here to empower you and teach you ways to improve your function and restore your independence in order to improve your quality of life. It will take a certain amount of effort and dedication on your part to get the most out of each visit. It is important to work with your therapist and do the prescribed exercises at home, as most of the work is accomplished outside of your treatment.

What to Wear

The right choice of clothing will help your physical therapist or occupational therapist provide a proper exam and effective therapy. In general, comfort is key. Try to wear clothes that are easy to move in as that gives the therapist full access to the affected body part.  

We do have restrooms available for a change of clothes. Please arrive at your appointment 10-15 minutes ahead of time and let the front desk and or security guard that you would like to change.  

Below are suggestions for what to wear to specific types of appointments.

PT for Jaw, Neck, Shoulders, Hands, and Back Pain

Try to wear loose fitting t-shirts, or loose long sleeves that can be rolled up, tank tops, or sports bras. If you have long hair, wear your hair up or bring a hair tie.

Avoid wearing turtlenecks, heavy sweaters, necklaces, large or long earrings.  

PT for Hip, Knee, Ankle, or Foot Pain

Try to wear loose-fitting pants that can be rolled up or wear gym shorts.  For ankles and feet, try to wear closed-toe supportive footwear like sneakers or flat shoes. Along with providing support while performing exercises, this will allow for the therapist to assess your natural gait pattern.  

Avoid wearing high heels, heavy boots, sandals or flip-flops.

Refrain from wearing athletic leggings, they may be comfortable but can be difficult to roll up above the knees comfortably.  

PT Neurology Appointment

Again, wear loose fitting clothing. In addition, avoid wearing jewelry and false eyelashes, as these may interfere with special tests.  Also avoid wearing heavily scented perfumes or colognes, as others may have sensitivities or allergies to the smell.  

PT Physical Therapy Pelvic Floor Appointment

Try to wear loose-fitting clothing especially below the waist.  

Avoid wearing tight pants, tight dresses, corsets, abdominal binders, rompers, or onesies.  

Occupational Therapy Appointment

Try to wear tank tops, loose fitting short sleeve shirts or long sleeves that can be rolled up, so your therapist will have access to your hand, forearm, or shoulder.  

For hand therapy, try to avoid wearing rings and bracelets, as these may become too hot with heat modality and get in the way of bracing. Also, avoid wearing long fingernails as this may interfere with finger measurements.