By Anne-Marie Lamontagne, physiotherapist

The first consultation with a new healthcare professional can be intimidating and raise questions. “What is the role of the physiotherapist?” “How long will it last?” “How will it go?” “Will it hurt?” “What should I bring?” We will try to briefly help demystify your first physiotherapy appointment.

What is the role of the physiotherapist?

What does a physiotherapist do? According to the Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec (OPPQ), “Physiotherapy is a health science whose role is to help you regain the maximum of your physical abilities.” By working with you, physiotherapists follow a personalized treatment plan, focused on concrete and meaningful goals for you. Several treatment modalities can be used depending on the issue and situation: therapeutic exercise programs, recommendations and daily advice for pain management, manual therapy, dry needling, taping, and more!

How long will it last?

The answer: it depends. Indeed, a first physiotherapy appointment usually lasts from 30 to 60 minutes with the physiotherapist, depending on the case. The physiotherapist’s note-taking, the creation of an exercise program, and other communications will also take place during this same consultation hour. Subsequent appointments generally last from 20 to 30 minutes.

How does the appointment go?

The first appointment is designed to assess your condition, determine the cause of your symptoms, your prognosis, and a treatment plan. To do this, the meeting will start with a subjective interview during which the reason for your consultation will be discussed, as well as the timeline of events, your overall health history, and your past medical and injury history. Specific questions regarding your symptoms will then be asked. Be prepared, physiotherapists ask a lot of questions! Here are some examples to help you prepare:

• Where is the pain located?
• What type of pain do you have? (sharp, burning, electric shock, etc.)
• What is the intensity of your pain?
• What makes your pain worse? What relieves it?
• Do you have pain at night? What position do you sleep in?
• Etc.

Finally, after the interview, the physiotherapist and you will discuss your expectations and goals for follow-up. Feel free to think about this in advance. For example:

• You want to be able to resume climbing without pain.
• You want to be able to do your outdoor work this spring.
• You just want to know your diagnosis and get an exercise program, but don’t want long-term follow-up.
• You are on a work break and want to return as soon as possible.
• Etc.

Once the interview is completed, the physiotherapist will perform a physical examination of your condition to determine the cause of your symptoms. This includes measuring joint range of motion, strength tests, flexibility, diagnostic tests, precise palpation of the painful area, and functional tests.

Once the interview and physical examination are finished, the professional will inform you of their hypotheses regarding the source of your symptoms, your recovery prognosis, the proposed treatment plan, and the frequency of upcoming treatments. This is the time to ask any questions, even those that might seem trivial. Thinking about them beforehand can help you not forget anything during the appointment.

Finally, treatment will begin during the first appointment, with you being taught a home exercise program. If time permits, other modalities may be used in addition, depending on the treatment plan.

Will it hurt?

During the evaluation, the physiotherapist’s goal is to determine the origin of the pain. To do this, the pain will likely be reproduced during the physical examination. However, your physiotherapist will try to perform their evaluation in the most concise and least irritating way possible. In some cases, you may experience a slight temporary increase in pain after the evaluation, which should resolve quickly.

What should I bring?

First, dress in a way that allows easy access to the area being treated. You can bring shorts or a tank top depending on the need and make sure to remove any jewelry.

Additionally, depending on your situation, prepare your medical prescription, medication list, radiology exam results, previous physiotherapy records, etc., and hand them over at reception so everything is accessible in your digital file. Preparing ahead will help your physiotherapist be more efficient and effective. An hour may seem long, but you’ll see that it passes quickly!

In short, your first appointment is an important step in your rehabilitation. Your physiotherapist will make it their mission to reassure you and create a trusting relationship with you from the moment you arrive.

Need your first appointment with a physiotherapist? Don’t wait and team up with a physiotherapist at Dextérité!