Physical therapy is one of the best things you can do for your body and your longterm health. Our team of physical therapy experts are ready to get you moving again! If you’ve never been to physical therapy before, or if this is your first visit to Orlando Sports Medicine, there are a few things you should know so that you are prepared and can get the most out of your physical therapy appointment.
Registration
At your first visit, you will be greeted by one of our Patient Account Representatives. They will walk you through your registration process. You will be given a notice of privacy practices and our team will fully explain your insurance benefits to you. You will also have a bit of clinical paperwork to fill out with respect to the reason for your treatment.
After we get you all set up, we can help schedule your future visits at times that are most convenient for you. It’s our goal to make sure you feel informed about all aspects of your care. So if you have any questions, please ask!
What To Bring
At your first visit, you should bring your physical therapy prescription given to you by your referring physician. If you misplace or forget this, we can generally receive a copy from your physician, so don’t worry. You will also want to bring your medical insurance ID card and photo ID if you will be using these benefits to help pay for your care. Be aware of, or bring, a list of current medications. Any test results or imaging – like X-rays, MRIs and their reports are helpful to your Physical Therapist, so please bring these as well. In addition, any operative report or pictures from your surgery can help us gain specific insight into your individual condition and aid in treatment planning.
What To Wear
It’s best to wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing- like gym wear. If you are coming from work or need to change, we have areas available for this. Please don’t wear clothes that restrict your movement, dress shoes, or belts. We need to see how you move, and wearing gym clothes is usually best to achieve this.
Initial Evaluation
Every patient meets with a Doctor of Physical Therapy at their first visit. This therapist is assigned to your care and will be directly responsible for making decisions about each visit. He or she will be corresponding with your physician after the evaluation and sending progress notes to your physician for follow up visits as you recover. During your evaluation, your Physical Therapist will discuss the history of your present injury, review any past medical history and perform tests and measurements to determine your starting point and the best course of action for your treatment. Your Physical Therapist will also discuss your personal goals and establish a treatment plan that will be followed during each session.
Following your initial evaluation visit, you will generally be scheduled for follow up visits 1-3 times per week, as needed, in order to reach your treatment goals.