What to expect from your physiotherapy session & how to make the most out of it

Most of us have been there, pushing through our day-to-day routines with some level of discomfort in our bodies. It’s usually when that discomfort increases that we decide to schedule a visit for physiotherapy, surely not a happy place to be. Especially if you are the type of person that doesn’t like going to the doctors or asking for help, which often means you are facing quite some pain. Within this blog, we will try to: 

• Help you navigate your expectations when scheduling a physiotherapy session,

• Give you some tips that will allow you to have a better session, and 

• Provide you with a few reasons why we think the level of physiotherapy service that Athos Physio is providing is among the best in Manchester.

If you have any questions related to this piece of content feel free to contact us and we will do our best to support your request. 

What you should expect in the initial physiotherapy assessment?

During the initial physiotherapy assessment, your selected physiotherapist should assess the area with the issue while building rapport for your overall activity level and lifestyle. The physiotherapist may (should really) ask verbal questions and perform a physical diagnostic examination to determine: 

• Your range of motion (mobility and flexibility)

• Overall strength as well as strength at the impacted area 

• Using palpation to feel the affected areas and identify the key pain points.

• Depending on the area of injury assess your: 

• Ligament and joint stability 

• The neural system, reflexes and sensation assessment

• Level of swelling, if any

These initial tests should allow your physiotherapist to determine the best course of action for your treatment and any follow-up that may be required. 

What should the physiotherapy treatment include?

Treatment varies from person to person and depends on the condition or injury that is being treated. Your physiotherapist should always discuss the suggested plan and course of action and you need to make sure you are comfortable with what is being presented to you. Sometimes a treatment needs just a few sessions other times is a longer journey but in any case, you should understand why these steps need to be taken. Below is a list of a few of the treatments that could be part of your physiotherapy plan: 

• Soft tissue massage

• Trigger point therapy - direct pressure is applied to the area

• Joint mobilisations - the pressure is applied to the joints 

• Dry needling - very fine needles are placed into the tissue.

• Dry cupping -

• Postural correction and exercise prescription 

• Advice and education - what to do to help yourself and what to avoid

What can you expect after the physiotherapy treatment?

This is entirely dependent on the course of treatment that is taking place. Most physiotherapy sessions include some form of soft tissue palpation and massage. In these cases, it is normal to feel a little sore or tender in the hours or even days after the treatment, but this should soon fade. Generally speaking, even with this soreness you should leave the physiotherapy sessions feeling a little bit better unless otherwise outlined by your physiotherapist why that is not the case.

If you require follow-up appointments or to complete any exercises at home as part of your treatment, these should be discussed during the physiotherapy session. 

Is there a rule of thumb for the number of physiotherapy appointments needed?

There is no rule of thumb and it is completely depending on what the issue is. Sometimes it could be as low as 1 to 3 sessions and other times it could be a 6 months treatment journey that you need to take. There are several factors impacting the length and amount of treatment you will need from your physiotherapy sessions. Some of these are led by your physiotherapist but others are depending on you:

• What is causing the symptoms

• The extent of the injury 

• How long you’ve had the symptoms

• Your fitness levels and lifestyle 

• How much time and effort you are investing at following the treatment plan

Following your first appointment, your physiotherapist should outline how many sessions they think you will need and re-evaluate this as the treatment continues.

Tips for a better physiotherapy session

One of the most common questions is what to wear to physio appointments. For your first assessment, we suggest you wear the following:

• Loose, comfortable clothing

• Underwear

• Shorts or a vest

Depending on where the affected area needs to be assessed or treated, you may be required to undress down to your underwear or shorts to complete a full assessment. If this is the case, you can rest assured your privacy will always be respected. If you are uncomfortable doing so, please discuss this with us. 

How we approach your first physiotherapy session at Athos Physio

In Athos Physio, the first step we take is to conduct a full kinesiotherapy assessment to identify the root cause of your issue. From there we create a treatment protocol tailored to your individual needs and lifestyle goals.

We hope we have answered some of the questions that we often get asked by our clients before they visit us. In case you have any that are not addressed here, feel free to drop us a call or email, and we will be able to help. Also, keep in mind that we offer a free 15-minute online or in-person physiotherapy consultation to address any concerns you may have before visiting us.