Practice
What happens at your first visit
An assessment, a movement screen and a written plan — what we look at, what we ask you, and what you leave with.
Dr. Dalton Menezes (PT) · 2 min read · August 28, 2026
If you have not seen a physiotherapist before, the first appointment can be hard to picture. Here is exactly what to expect, so nothing about it is a surprise.
The conversation comes first
We will ask what happened, when it started, what makes it better and worse, and what you need to get back to. That last question shapes everything — the plan for someone who needs to lift a toddler is not the plan for someone returning to competitive sport.
We will also ask about your general health, medications, and any imaging you have had. Bring reports if you have them.
The physical assessment
We will look at how you move, test the strength and range of the area involved, and check the joints above and below it — knee pain often traces to the hip, shoulder pain to the neck. Some of this may reproduce your symptoms briefly; that is informative, and we will tell you before we do anything uncomfortable.
What you leave with
- An explanation of what we think is going on, in plain language
- Which of our four stages you are starting from, and what the next one requires
- A small number of specific exercises — not a photocopied sheet of twenty
- A realistic sense of timeframe
Practical details
Wear or bring clothing you can move in, and that allows the relevant area to be seen — shorts for a knee, a vest for a shoulder. Allow around 45 minutes. You are welcome to bring someone with you.
If we do not think physiotherapy is the right answer for your problem, we will say so and point you where to go instead.
This article is general information, not a substitute for an individual assessment. Every recovery is different, which is why every treatment plan is tailored to your condition, goals and progress.