What to Expect During Your Visit

 
 

Your Physical Therapy Visit

Your initial Physical Therapy appointment at SPARC PT will start with a private conversation between you and your therapist. He or she will work with you to assess your overall movement history, your medical history, and your goals moving forward. Your therapist will then perform a thorough physical evaluation including clinical diagnostic tests, functional movement assessment and other functional issues you may want to address. Through this assessment, your therapist will analyze your movement patterns (noting muscle imbalances, weaknesses, stability, mobility, stiffness, etc.) and how these movement patterns relate to the cause and/or irritation of your injury. Your therapist will then create a treatment plan and work with you to schedule follow-up visits as needed. Your first visit will last approximately 60-75 minutes. The intent of the first visit is to create an individualized and specific road map for the Physical Therapist and patient to follow in order to achieve each patient’s goals.

The therapist will discuss the following: 

  • Your medical history

  • Your current problems/complaints

  • Pain intensity, what aggravates and eases the problem

  • How this is impacting your daily activities or your functional limitations

  • Your goals with physical therapy

  • Medications, tests, and procedures related to your health

The therapist will perform a variety of assessments to understand the symptoms you are experiencing and just as importantly to devise a comprehensive program to treat the underlying cause of your problems. A plan is subsequently developed with the patient’s input. This includes how many times you should see the therapist per week, how many weeks you will need therapy, home programs, patient education, short-term/long-term goals, and what is expected after discharge from therapy. Each patient will go home with pictures and/or video of an individualized Home Exercise Program to help the patient achieve their goals as quickly as possible. This plan is created with input from you, your therapist, and your doctor.

Please wear comfortable clothing (i.e. athletic/comfortable clothing, athletic shoes) for your physical therapy appointment. Our intent is to get you moving!

 

Wellness/Functional Training Visit

More details to follow. Please inquire if you are interested in progressing from physical therapy to advancing with functional training.