2 Tips For Preparing For Your Physical Therapy Assessment For A Back Injury
While recovering from a back injury, your doctor may have decided that you should undergo physical therapy to help decrease your pain and increase your mobility. After the appointment has been set, you may be wondering if there is anything that you can do before the initial assessment. If so, use the tips below to help get you ready for your initial therapy session.
1. Start a Therapy Journal Before the Visit
As part of your assessment, the therapist will be asking a lot of questions to determine how your injury has affected your life and mobility as well as what actions cause you discomfort. When you are sitting in front of them, however, it can sometimes be difficult to accurately relay the information, and you may forget a key point.
To help give the therapist a complete picture of how your back injury is affecting you, start a journal as soon as you know you will be undergoing therapy. Carry it with you, and periodically, write down what you are doing and how you are feeling. Also, take notes on how your ability to move has changed since you were hurt.
You can also use the journal to jot down any questions you may have for the therapist so that you do not forget. Continue writing in the journal during your sessions so that you can share any issues or progress with the therapist.
2. Plan What You Intend to Wear for the Assessment
Another thing you can do before the date of your physical therapy assessment is to plan out what you intend to wear. Since you are going to be assessed for a back injury, the therapist will most likely have you doing activities such as bending over, pulling your legs up, and others that will require that you have full freedom of movement.
Plan on wearing loose clothes and rubber-soled, flat shoes to the appointment. However, you want to make sure that your clothes are fairly snug, as you do not want to bend over and worry about your shirt flying over your head or walk around while trying to keep your pants from falling down.
Making preparations before you arrive at your initial visit can help the therapist know more about you as well as ensure that you are ready for the physical assessment. Before your appointment date, contact the physical therapy center to see if there is anything else you need to bring as well as find out any tips for getting ready for the assessment.
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