WHAT TO EXPECT

During your first visit, your physical therapist will ask you detailed questions about your condition to get a clear understanding of your problem and how it affects you. If you have had tests such as x-rays or MRIs, or if you have seen a specialist regarding your condition, please bring copies of those reports if you have them. We will perform a physical evaluation that will include looking at such things as your range of motion, flexibility, strength, sensation and reflexes in order to identify any areas that need attention or monitoring.

We will work with you to set functional, achievable goals for your physical therapy treatment.

Also, during that first visit we will teach you some exercises you can start performing as part of your home exercise program. There should still be time to introduce you to the MedX medical grade exercise equipment that makes us unique in Central Oregon, and have you begin strengthening your way back to a more enjoyable life.

A typical visit will include warming up on a piece of cardio equipment, followed by range-of-motion/stretching and strengthening exercises. So make sure you wear clothes you feel comfortable moving in.

In most cases patients will be seen twice per week. Treatment sessions are up to one hour in length, one-on-one with your physical therapist. Our goal is to get your spinal muscles as strong as possible to give you the opportunity to be the best you can be. This usually takes between eight to twelve weeks. It takes four weeks or more to start to appreciate symptom improvements, it takes time to make physiological changes to a tissue through exercise. So don’t be discouraged if you don’t feel significantly better initially; in fact, it is not unusual to feel an increase in discomfort the first few weeks. After all, you likely haven’t used your neck or back “normally” for quite some time.