Your First Orthopedic PT Visit: Why I Look Beyond the Sore Spot
Hip pain, low back pain, tailbone pain, a nagging hamstring. Sometimes the problem is exactly where it hurts. Often it is not. The first visit is about finding out which.
History first
When did it start, what makes it worse, what have you tried, and what do you want to get back to — running, lifting, gardening, sitting through a workday. I also ask about bladder, bowel and pregnancy history, because the pelvic floor attaches to the same bones as your hips and spine, and it is often part of the picture.
Movement and hands-on assessment
- How you walk, squat, bend, lift and balance
- Joint mobility and strength through the spine, hips, knees and ankles
- Breathing and pressure management — how your trunk handles load
- Hands-on assessment of the painful area and the areas feeding into it
As a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS), I look at the whole chain, not just the joint that hurts.
Treatment starts the same day
Usually manual therapy to calm things down, and two or three targeted exercises you can do at home. Not a page of twenty. We build from there based on how your body responds.
What you leave with
A clear reason for your pain, a plan, and an honest estimate of how long it will take. Full-hour, one-on-one sessions every time.