Your First Physical Therapy Appointment
At Bull Dawg Athletic Training and Physical Therapy, we can assure you that your first physical therapy appointment will be a positive experience and that all of your questions will be answered.
What to Expect
Your first physical therapy appointment will be a one-hour evaluation and planning session where you will meet with your physical therapist to discuss your condition and identify your goals for recovery. This is where your physical therapist will get to know you by asking specific questions about your health, medical history, and current pain or injury before conducting the appropriate assessments to determine your range of motion, strength, and coordination.
At Bull Dawg Athletic Training and Physical Therapy, we want to be sure we’re getting to the root of your issue and not just treating the symptoms, so open communication is key. Please ensure you communicate with your therapist during the hands-on evaluation if anything hurts or bothers you.
At the end of the initial evaluation, your physical therapist will discuss their findings and recommendations with you, answer any questions you may have, and work with you to prepare a personalized treatment plan and schedule that ensures the quickest recovery and best results for you. This recommended treatment plan will subsequently be submitted to your referring physician or another medical professional of your choice.
What to Bring
To help make your first physical therapy appointment as smooth as possible, please arrive at least 15 minutes early to ensure you are checked in and ready for your appointment. You’ll need to bring the following items:
Download and complete the new patient registration form(s).
Your insurance card
Government-issued photo I.D.
A list of important signs and symptoms and questions you’d like to discuss
Have in writing key past medical history, previous treatments, current medications & dosage, and other important information.
What to Wear
There may be some treatments performed at your initial evaluation, so comfort is key for your first visit — and all of your follow-up visits. We recommend that you bring or wear loose and comfortable “workout” clothing so you can move freely and allows your physical therapist to see and touch your injured area. This may include:
Leggings or shorts with an elastic waistband or loose pants that you can roll up
T-Shirt or tank top (no turtlenecks)
Comfortable sneakers.