Not sure what happens at a first physio appointment? Here is what to bring, what you will be asked, how you are examined and how a plan is agreed.
A first physio appointment can feel like a step into the unknown. Will it hurt? Do you have to undress? Most of the visit is a conversation, a careful examination and a plan that you help to shape. If you would like to see for yourself, you can book an appointment online at any time.
Here is the visit step by step, drawing on guidelines for muscle, bone and joint (musculoskeletal) pain and on research into how patients and physios work together.
At a glance
- What happens: a conversation, a physical examination, an explanation and an agreed plan
- Bring: your cards, any scans or letters, a medication list and any claim details
- Wear: clothes you can move in that let the physio reach the sore area
- Referral: not needed to see a physio privately, but needed for some funded care
- Length: usually longer than follow-up visits
- Your say: in one review, most people wanted to take part in decisions about their care
What should I bring and wear to my first physio appointment?
What to bring
- Your cards: Medicare and, if you plan to claim, your private health card.
- Funding paperwork: a GP referral for a Medicare care plan or DVA, claim details for a work injury or car accident, or your NDIS plan details.
- Scans and reports: X-ray, MRI or ultrasound reports, specialist letters and operation notes.
- A health list: medicines and doses, conditions such as diabetes or heart disease, allergies, and past injuries.
- A few notes: when it started and what makes it better or worse.
What to wear
Choose loose, stretchy clothes that suit the area being checked: shorts for the hip, knee, ankle or foot, and a singlet or loose top for the neck, shoulder or back. Your physio may ask you to move clothing so they can see and feel the area. You can ask for a towel, a gown or a closed door.
Do I need a referral to see a physio?
No. The Australian Physiotherapy Association describes physiotherapists as Ahpra-regulated, autonomous clinical practitioners who can assess, diagnose, treat and discharge a person without a medical referral, where appropriate. You can simply book.
A referral matters when someone else is paying: a Medicare chronic condition plan and DVA both need one, and work injury and car accident claims have their own approval steps. See our page on health funds for private extras, and our bulk billing page for care plan sessions.
What happens first: the conversation
Most first appointments start with questions, because a good physio wants to understand you as well as your sore spot. Expect to be asked about:
- What the problem is, when it began and whether an injury set it off
- What makes it better or worse, by day and by night
- How it affects work, sleep, sport and family life
- What you have already tried, including tablets, treatment and scans
- Your general health, medicines and past injuries
- What you want to get back to, and what worries you
Why your worries and daily life come up
A 2020 systematic review of high-quality guidelines for musculoskeletal pain found recommendations that care should be patient centred and that clinicians should assess psychosocial factors, such as stress, sleep, mood and how you think about your pain. These questions are not a judgement. They help shape a plan that fits your life.
Questions about serious causes
Some questions may sound alarming: night pain, unexplained weight loss, fever, bladder or bowel changes, or numbness around the groin. They are routine checks for the uncommon cases where pain comes from a fracture, infection, cancer or pressure on the nerves. An international framework for spinal pain describes these “red flags” as signs that might raise suspicion, not proof, so physios weigh the answers together. If something worries them, they will say so and send you to a GP or hospital.
What a good conversation feels like
A systematic review of 12 studies found that listening, asking questions and showing sensitivity to emotional concerns were linked with a stronger therapeutic alliance (the trust and agreement between you and your clinician), though the authors cautioned that the evidence was limited. You should feel heard, and you can ask what any question is for.
What happens next: the physical examination
Next, your physio looks at how you move and what brings on your symptoms. A physical examination is a core step in the guideline review, and usually includes:
- Watching: how you stand, walk, get out of a chair or reach overhead
- Movement: how far a joint moves, by you and by the physio, and what brings on your symptoms
- Strength and feeling: pushing against gentle resistance, and pressing on muscles and joints for tender spots
- Nerve checks: reflexes, sensation and muscle strength, if you have tingling or numbness
- Nearby areas: pain is not always where the problem is, so a sore arm may lead to a neck check
It is not a test you pass or fail. Some movements briefly reproduce your pain on purpose, because that helps your physio work out what is driving it. Tell them if anything is too sore, and ask for a break or to stop whenever you like. Some people feel a little sore afterwards, like after a workout. If you feel much worse, call the clinic.
Will I need a scan or X-ray?
Often not. The guideline review recommends using imaging selectively, and a careful history and examination usually give your physio most of what they need. A scan is more likely if the findings point to a fracture, a serious cause or nerve damage, or if surgery is being considered.
How will my physio explain what is wrong?
After the examination, you should hear in plain language what your physio thinks is going on, how confident they are, what usually happens with a problem like yours and what you can do about it. Education is another core guideline recommendation.
Shared decision-making means you and your physio weigh up the options together. A review of nine studies of patients’ experiences found that most people wanted to take part in decisions, and that trust, two-way communication and sharing power made it work. If you hear a term you do not know, such as “tendinopathy” (a sore, overloaded tendon), ask for it to be put another way.
What will my plan and home exercises involve?
A plan usually covers what to do and what to ease off, any hands-on treatment that suits you, exercises, advice for work and sleep, and when progress will be reviewed. The guideline review recommends physical activity and exercise, and says hands-on therapy should be only an add-on. Treatment may start at the first visit, or that visit may focus on assessment and explanation.
Making home exercises stick
- Ask to be shown each exercise and to get it in writing, a photo or a video.
- Ask how often to do each one, and how a mild ache that is fine differs from a pain that means stop.
- Ask for a short list. A routine you do beats a long one you drop.
- Tell your physio honestly if it is not fitting in. The plan can change.
Sticking with exercises is hard for most people. A systematic review of ways to improve adherence with physiotherapy found poor adherence commonplace, and strong evidence that the strategies tested did not improve long-term adherence with home exercise, though a motivational cognitive-behavioural programme improved attendance at clinic exercise sessions.
Safety note: mild soreness with a new exercise is common. Stop and tell your physio if an exercise sharply increases your pain, brings on pins and needles or numbness, or leaves you much worse the next day.
How long does a first physio appointment take?
A first appointment is usually longer than later ones, because it includes the history, examination, explanation and planning. The clinic will tell you the booked time. Allow a few extra minutes for forms.
How many visits you need depends on the problem, how long you have had it and your goals. Ask your physio how often you will come, when progress will be reviewed and what shows you are on track. Monitoring progress is another guideline recommendation.
Questions to ask your physio
- What do you think is causing my problem, and how sure are you?
- Is it safe to keep moving, working and exercising? What should I avoid?
- What are my options, and what will we do today?
- How will we know it is working, and what if it flares up?
- Do I need a scan, or to see my GP or a specialist?
- What will I pay, and what can I claim?
When to see a physio or doctor
See a physio if pain has lasted more than a couple of weeks, keeps coming back, or is getting in the way of work, sleep or sport. See a GP or go to an emergency department promptly, or call 000 in an emergency, if you have:
- Severe pain, deformity or inability to use a limb after a fall or crash
- New weakness in an arm or leg, or numbness around the groin or inner thighs
- New difficulty controlling your bladder or bowels
- Severe night pain that keeps getting worse, especially with fever, unexplained weight loss or feeling very unwell
- Chest pain, shortness of breath or a sudden, severe headache
How UpPlus Physiotherapy helps
At UpPlus Physiotherapy in Seaton, a first visit follows this shape. We listen to your history and goals, examine the sore area and the joints around it, explain what we find in plain language and agree a plan with you. That plan may include hands-on treatment and exercise rehabilitation. If your findings point to a scan, a GP or a specialist, we will say so.
Read more about lower back pain, neck conditions and knee conditions.
Finding a physio near me for a first appointment
Look for a registered physio: Ahpra’s public register lets you check registration status and qualifications. Then look for someone who listens, explains plainly and gives you a plan you can follow.
Our clinic is at 177 Trimmer Parade, Seaton, a short drive from Woodville, Findon, West Lakes, Grange and Henley Beach.
Physio take-home message
- You do not need a referral to see a physio, only if Medicare, DVA or a claim is paying.
- Bring your cards, scans and medication list, and wear clothes you can move in.
- Expect a conversation, an examination, a plain explanation and a plan you help to shape.
- Ask questions, and say so if anything is too sore or does not fit your life.
- Keep the plan realistic, because home exercise only helps if you do it.
If you are ready for a first visit, our physiotherapists will go through it with you. Book online or call 0403 907 587.
This article is general information, not a diagnosis or a substitute for an individual assessment. If you are unsure about your symptoms, see a health professional.
