Before the Session: How to Prepare
Clear a space in your home with enough room for the therapist to move around you — approximately a 2m x 2m area. Have any relevant medical reports, X-rays, MRI scans, or surgical notes ready. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that allows the therapist to assess the affected area.
Step 1: The Subjective Assessment
Your therapist will begin by asking about your main complaint, how it started, what makes it better or worse, your medical history, medications, and your goals for therapy. This typically takes 10–15 minutes and forms the foundation of your treatment plan.
Step 2: Objective Assessment
The therapist will examine the affected area: testing range of motion, strength, reflexes, sensation, and performing specific clinical tests to identify the source of your problem. They will also observe your posture and movement patterns.
Step 3: Explanation and Goal Setting
Your physiotherapist will explain their findings in plain language, discuss the diagnosis, outline a proposed treatment plan, and agree on short and long-term goals with you.
Step 4: Initial Treatment
Depending on the condition, the first session may include manual therapy (massage, joint mobilisation), therapeutic exercises, pain management modalities, taping, or education. A home exercise program will be prescribed from the first session.
After the Session
Expect some temporary soreness after the first few sessions — this is normal as the body responds to therapeutic stress. Follow your prescribed home exercise program daily. Most patients see meaningful improvement within 3–4 sessions.