How To Get The Most From Your Physical Therapy Sessions

So you have to go to PT, but don’t know what to expect?  We get it.  Anytime you go into something new it can be uncomfortable.  Knowing upfront how to get the most out of your sessions can help increase your comfort level and maximize your results. 

1.       Ask questions

A great therapist should be able to address most questions without you having to ask.  However, if there is something that may need clarification or questions naturally arise throughout your Plan of Care, do not hesitate to ask.  This way we can quickly address your concern and prevent any issues from arising.

2.       Know where you’re going and how you’re getting there

From day 1, your therapist should outline what your goals are, and the process for meeting them.  Every session and exercise should be geared towards meeting these goals, and your progress should be tracked so you can objectively see your progress.

3.       Do your homework

You should be given a Home Exercise Program (HEP) by your therapist.  It is very important to do them as prescribed, immediately telling your therapist of any issues so he/she can adjust accordingly in order to get the best results.  Avoid over or under exercising since either one of these can hinder your progress.

4.       Give your therapist feedback

We don’t know if you are in pain unless you tell us.  Yes, a lot of the time we can tell based on body language and facial expressions, but some people are good at hiding it and/or have a “no pain, no gain” mentality.  We need to know in-session what effect the interventions are having so that we can adjust if needed.  The more feedback we have from you, the more effective we can be and the better outcomes you will have.

Happy exercising!

Dr. James