This is a list of the top things to know and tick off before seeing your physiotherapist.

1. Length of appointments

At Yates Physiotherapy, our initial appointments are 40 minutes long and our follow up appointments are 30 minutes. This means that if it's your first time seeing a physiotherapist or if the appointment is for a new problem you have, expect the session to take 40 minutes. Follow up sessions (that aren’t hydrotherapy) are going to be 30 minutes, unless your physiotherapist has directed you towards another session or treatment type. This can be important for planning your day around the appointment you have, so make sure you leave enough time!

2. What to wear to your physiotherapy appointment

The most important thing for your physiotherapy session is that you feel comfortable in what you are wearing. This is important to note because the physiotherapists assessment and treatment may include some light exercise and stretching. Therefore, wearing clothes that accommodate this is essential. Another recommendation is that if the problem you are seeing the physiotherapist is for your legs, it is a good idea to wear shorts so that the physiotherapist can easily view the area in question. Some suggested clothing items are:

• Loose t-shirt or tank top
• Athletic shoes instead of sandals or thongs
• Sporty shorts that provide access to knees

3. What to bring to your physiotherapy appointment

There are a few essential items to bring to your physiotherapy appointments, however they differ depending on what you are doing within each session. Items we recommend everyone take with them for a first or returning physiotherapy appointment are:

• Medication list (showing amounts and frequency)
• Scan results (if applicable and relevant)
• Private health and debit/credit cards
• Water bottle
• Any aids or previously provided instructions (crutches and hospital exercise programs)

If your session is in the pool or is for hydrotherapy, it is also important you either come dressed in bathers or have them and a spare change of clothes packed ready with you.

4. What to expect to your physiotherapy appointment

If it is your first time seeing the physiotherapist, the session will include more history taking and assessment than follow-up sessions as it is imperative we build a strong past history and understanding of your presentation on the first visit. The initial consult will also include treatments based on what was found in the assessment and discussion.

In follow up visits, more time can be spent on treatment as required, however some further assessment to rule out factors and examine other contributing factors will be conducted. Around the early stages, your physiotherapist will also provide you with a treatment plan which outlines their thinking regarding diagnosis, treatment methods and recovery time.

If your session is in the gym or pool, you can expect a solid period of exercises tailored to you for your specific issue with rest in between.