What to Expect at Your First Physical Therapy Visit

If you've never been to physical therapy before, it's normal to feel a little unsure about what's going to happen. Will it hurt? How long will it take? What should you wear?

Here's a walk-through of a first visit at Norfolk Physical Therapy so you know exactly what to expect.

Before your visit

Get your referral

A physician referral is required for in-person physical therapy at our clinics. Your primary care provider or specialist can send it to us directly, or you can bring it with you. If you aren't sure whether you need therapy, our free injury screening is a good place to start.

Bring these items

• Your insurance card
• Your referral or prescription
• A photo ID
• A list of medications
• Any imaging reports or surgical notes, if you have them

We're a provider for all major insurance companies and verify your benefits ahead of time, so you'll know what to expect.

Dress for movement

Wear comfortable clothes that let us see and move the area we're treating. Shorts are helpful for knee, hip, or ankle problems. A tank top or loose t-shirt works well for shoulder and neck issues.

The evaluation: what happens

Your first appointment is an evaluation, and it typically takes about 45 minutes to an hour. Here's how it usually goes.

1. We listen to your story

Your therapist will ask questions like:

• When and how did the problem start?
• What makes it better or worse?
• What does your typical day look like — work, home, sports, hobbies?
• What are your goals? What do you want to get back to?

This conversation is one of the most important parts of the visit. Your answers guide everything else.

2. We look at how you move

Next comes the physical exam. Depending on your problem, that may include:

• Checking range of motion
• Testing strength
• Watching how you walk, squat, reach, or bend
• Gently pressing on muscles and joints to find tender or stiff areas
• Special tests to narrow down which tissues are involved
• For back and neck pain, a McKenzie (MDT) assessment of how repeated movements affect your symptoms

We'll always explain what we're doing and why. Some tests may briefly reproduce your symptoms — that's part of finding the source — but we'll keep you comfortable.

3. We explain what's going on

After the exam, your therapist will explain what they found in plain language: what's likely causing your pain, what's contributing to it, and what the path to recovery looks like.

4. We build your plan together

You'll set goals together and talk about:

• How often you'll come in (often one to three times per week)
• How long recovery is likely to take
• What you can do at home to speed things up

5. Treatment starts right away

Most patients begin treatment at the first visit. That might include hands-on manual therapy, a few targeted exercises, and advice on activity. You'll leave with a short home exercise program.

After the first visit

We send an evaluation to your physician and keep them updated with progress notes. Follow-up visits usually last 30 to 60 minutes and are one-on-one with your therapist. Your program changes as you improve.

Tips to get the most out of physical therapy

• Do your home exercises. The work between visits is where much of your progress happens.
• Be honest. Tell us what's working and what isn't.
• Ask questions. Understanding your condition helps you manage it.
• Keep your appointments. Consistency matters, especially early on.

Ready to get started?

Our clinics in Norfolk, Tilden, and Newman Grove welcome new patients. For more details, see our new patient page, call (402) 371-9707, or request an appointment.