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Physical therapy takes the recovery process for an injury a step further. A therapist will provide a range of exercises, stretching, manual working of the muscles, and additional strategies to rebuild muscle stronger and more reliable. If you’re concerned about finding the right PT to help relieve your pain and get moving again, make sure to ask these questions before receiving treatment. 

What to Ask Your New Physical Therapist 

What can I expect in a typical session?

Get details about who will be treating you, how long each appointment is, and what that time will entail. You should understand these important aspects of your physical therapy sessions to make the most of your time there. Sometimes, a therapist’s strategy won’t align with your needs—like when you prefer one-on-one treatment, but they treat multiple patients in one time slot—which is why knowing the details of their workflow are vital to your recovery. 

What kind of treatment will I undergo?

physical therapyYour physical therapy regimen will evolve over time, but it is often better to mentally prepare for the more unpleasant aspects of your treatment, like manual therapy aimed to break up knots or scar tissue as well as acupuncture. If you have questions about any treatment, your therapist can explain what you’re doing and why they have chosen the techniques that they believe are best for your recovery. 

What are your expectations for me as a patient?

Establishing what a physical therapist expects from you will ensure that you have a united understanding and commitment to your recovery. While they can motivate you to expedite your recovery with at-home exercises, this process requires you to actually do them to stay on that track. If you don’t believe that you’re up for the “homework,” then make sure that’s established at the start so the therapist can organize their appointment plans accordingly. They will still likely encourage the use of at-home exercises, but they will expect to train you during physical therapy sessions as if you hadn’t done them.

How am I progressing?

Recovery can be a long progression of incremental improvements, which is why a therapist will take extensive measurements of the mobility of your injury on day one to track progress. When you’re feeling frustrated, ask them how you’re doing. They will have actual stats—like range of motion—to show you how far you’ve come, which can be very motivating when comparing day one to now. And even if you feel 100%, your therapist’s goal is to not only help you recover, but also to strengthen the injured part of your body to resist future injuries.

 

Having a dedicated physical therapist can make all the difference in your recovery. The team at Source Therapy has the expertise to get you back to normal through persistence and skill. Their therapists have helped alleviate the pain of patients throughout the Gig Harbor, WA, area with diverse physical therapy techniques catered to the individual injury. For more information and to book an initial appointment, call them today at (253) 857-4870 or visit them online.

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