What to Expect at Your First Physio Appointment
Not sure what happens at a first physio visit? Whether it's your first time ever having physiotherapy, or you just haven't been to a physio in a while, here's a straightforward rundown so you know exactly what to expect.
Before your physiotherapy appointment
It's helpful to bring or know:
- A brief history of your injury or symptoms - when it started and how
- Any relevant scans, X-rays, or specialist letters
- A list of any medications you're taking
- Your ACC claim number if your injury is accident-related (if you don't have one yet, we can lodge a claim for you)
- Comfortable clothing that allows movement and easy access to the area being assessed
The subjective assessment (the conversation with your physio)
Your physiotherapist will start by asking questions to understand your situation:
- What happened, and when
- What your symptoms feel like, and what makes them better or worse
- Your general health history
- Your work, sport, and lifestyle so treatment is realistic and relevant to your life
- What you're hoping to achieve from treatment
This part matters more than people expect as a good history often points to the diagnosis before any hands-on assessment even begins.
The physical assessment
Next comes a hands-on assessment by your physiotherapist, which might include:
- Watching how you move (walking, squatting, reaching, depending on the issue)
- Testing strength, flexibility, and range of motion
- Special tests to help confirm or rule out specific structures
- Palpation (feeling the area) to identify exactly what's involved
Diagnosis and plan
By the end of the first physio session, your physiotherapist will usually be able to give you:
A working diagnosis (sometimes with further tests recommended if needed)
An explanation of what's going on, in plain language
A physiotherapy treatment plan, including how many sessions you might need
Some initial exercises or advice to start on straight away
Physiotherapy treatment often starts on day one
Many people are surprised that physio treatment often begins in the very first session, rather than it just being an assessment. This might include hands-on physio techniques, taping, or your first set of guided exercises.
A few common questions about physiotherapy
Will it hurt? Most physiotherapy is comfortable. Some techniques or exercises may cause mild, short-lived soreness, similar to how a workout might feel.
Do I need a referral? No - you can self-refer directly to a physiotherapist, including for ACC-covered injuries.
You can see many more FAQs here.
Ready to book your first appointment?
You can book a spot online here, or get in touch with our team - we're happy to answer any questions beforehand too.
