Do you ever go to an appointment with a healthcare professional and not know what to expect? Do you ask yourself questions such as, Should I wear special clothes? Do I need to take my scans or blood test results? Are they going to “do” anything in this session or will they just talk to me?

Understanding what to expect during your first appointment allows you to get the most out of your time with your physio. Here at Paddington Health Hub we break your session into four main parts:

• • • Part 1: Assessment
    • Part 2: Treatment
    • Part 3: Homework
    • Part 4: Follow up
      

Part 1: Assessment

During the first part of your appointment there will be a lot of talking – by YOU! Your physio will ask lots of questions about your current concerns and how they are effecting your daily life (including sleeping, work and exercise). They should also ask you about your past history, as previous injuries can give us important information about your current injuries.

The next part of the assessment your physio will have a look at how your body moves. They might ask you to do specific movements, or they might perform some hands on tests.

The purpose of this assessment is for your physio to start to gather the information they need to identify the specific causes of your pain. Making a clear diagnosis is important so that they can treat the underlying pathology, producing better and longer lasting results. 

Part 2. Treatment

Treatment looks different depending on what type of injury or pain you have. At Paddington Health Hub our treatment usually consists of lots of hands-on physio, which includes massage and trigger pointing, joint mobilisation, dry needling… the list goes on. Your session may also incorporate other treatment methods such as exercise or using strapping tape to support your body during recovery.

One thing we don’t do in our treatments? Leave you alone. At Paddington Health Hub your session is one-on-one and you are the only client your physiotherapist is seeing at any one time.

Part 3. Homework

The effects of physiotherapy can continue to become apparent even after you’ve left the clinic, however to build on your results it is imperative you continue to manage your injury at home. Your homework may include stretches or exercises, working on your posture, changing your exercise routine or even keeping a diary of your pain to give us more answers about what might be the underlying cause of your injury.

One thing for sure though, you WILL be given homework after each and every session and following the plan makes a huge difference to your overall recovery.

Part 4. Follow up

The time you spend in the treatment room with your physiotherapist is only a small part of your overall healthcare journey. In most cases you will benefit most from attending multiple physiotherapy sessions over the next weeks and/or months. Your physiotherapist will explain to you the best plan for you, including the number of treatments you might need and the frequency of your visits. Keep in mind though these recommendations may change overtime as they depend on lots of individual factors such as your response to treatment, how well your body recovers and how closely you follow our recommendations including your treatment plan and your homework!

As part of the follow up process we also reach out to other members of your healthcare team to let them know how you’re doing. This might include chatting to your doctor about scans we recommend or discussing the medications you’re using for pain relief or an email to your personal trainer with suggestions for modifications of your training program to suit your current abilities.

As you can see there is A LOT to get through in your initial assessment. This is why at Paddington Health Hub we are committed to providing you with the best possible care. This means delivering some of the longest appointments in the industry so that you receive the necessary education, treatment and support to aid you in your recovery.

This is our longer appointment PROMISE.

For example, our regular Initial Physiotherapy appointment is 45 minutes. This is time that you spend 1:1 with your treating physiotherapist. No double appointments and no being left alone with machines. That is up to 50% longer than the industry average.

We feel this offers excellent value to our community of patients but more importantly, it gives us the best chance possible to help you achieve optimal health and well-being.

See you around the health hub soon!

Alex

Think you need some help from our physiotherapists? You can call the clinic on (07) 3194 2162 and speak to one of our friendly team members. Alternatively you can book online at http://www.paddingtonhelathhub.com.au and secure an appointment straight away or send us an email to hello@haddingtonhealthhub.com.au.