Arrive Early
Please arrive 10 – 15 minutes early, as you will need adequate time to fill out the paper work so that it won’t cut into your appointment time. If you have any billing questions please ensure these are answered before your treatment begins. We encourage you to express any questions or concerns you may have at any time so that you are comfortable and clearly understand the goals of your treatment and the treatment approach chosen for you.
Medical History & Assessment
Your initial visit will consist of a consultation of your medical history, as well as a thorough assessment (examination) of your current condition or injury. These are vital steps in your treatment as your therapist uses this information to make an educated decision on the best approach to treatment for you. It is very important that you do not leave anything out, as things that may not seem immediately relevant could actually have great influence on the risks and benefits of the treatment chosen for you.
Remember, massage “therapy” is much more than just a massage, and it is in your best interest that your therapist gathers as much information as they need to provide you the most effective treatment possible. Our goal is to not only to help relieve your symptoms, but to prevent them from recurring in the future – promoting good health, and saving you precious time and money in the long-term.
Treatment
It is the therapist’s goal to provide some hands-on treatment (manual therapy) at the first visit but please be prepared that this may not happen in rare situations. On some occasions, patients may be denied manual treatment due to health conditions that could render treatment unsafe. Also, ICBC appointments and complicated or chronic conditions often require longer examination time and therefore may affect treatment time.
During any hands-on portion of the treatment your therapist will check with you to make sure you are comfortable with both the environment and with the pressure being used. You will be properly draped (covered with sheets) for privacy, exposing only the area of the body that needs to be exposed for effective treatment. It is common for your therapist to take a moderate approach at the first visit in order to determine tissue response & reaction, and then to adjust the treatment as necessary in the following visits. Be sure to let your therapist know if anything feels uncomfortable or painful, or if you simply have any questions about the treatment being provided.
Prevention
Towards the end of the visit your therapist will take some time to discuss her findings and recommendations. In addition to the examination and treatment, another important part of your care is patient education and remedial exercise (self-care). Often exercises & home care will be given at a later appointment (after your therapist has become familiar with your condition and has been able to assess your response to treatment) but be prepared that basic home care instructions may be given at your first appointment.
