What does a Physiotherapist do? What to expect during an appointment?
Hi everyone, I’m Tyler, the Physiotherapist at Cadence!
Often times I work with patients who have never received physiotherapy treatment in the past, and have no idea what the experience entails. I thought it would be a good idea to outline what I do as a physical therapist to help you decide If physiotherapy is right for you.
Your treatment will be broken down into three components:
Patient History
- I want to know exactly what is going on. I find that the more a patient tells me the easier it is to form a diagnosis, so do not be afraid to chat! I will ask questions regarding the cause, location, intensity, type, and frequency of pain. It is important that I know the aggravating and easing factors of your symptoms as well. This information will allow me to educate you on lifestyle changes that will aid in your recovery.
Physical Assessment
- The physical assessment will begin with the observation of functional movements such as walking, squatting and balance. Once the observation is complete, I will measure the strength and range of motion of the affected body site. Then, special diagnostic tests will be performed to confirm my diagnosis.
Treatment
- Treatment will begin with education. Education is one of the most crucial parts of patient care. I want to make sure that you know what the cause of your pain is, how long it will take you to recover, and what your individualized treatment plan is going to look like.
- Once your education is competed, I will use various manual therapy techniques or functional dry needling to decrease your pain and improve range of motion.
- Next we will develop your therapeutic exercise program. Therapeutic exercise is a crucial part of your your recovery as it helps the injured tissues repair and strengthen. I will design a program that is individualized to your rehabilitation goals. Once each exercise has been reviewed and you are confident in your ability to perform them at home you will be emailed copy of your program. The program will include instructions and pictures that will help you to perform the exercises correctly. I will also outline the volume and frequency in which the exercise needs to be performed.
I hope this has given everyone a clear idea of what to expect from a physiotherapy treatment with me. I am looking forward to working with you,
Tyler
