The first visit to a physician, in any outpatient facility, should look practically the same, whether you visited your general practitioner or specialist (orthopedist, neurologist) and underwent a basic clinical examination or examination using one of the diagnostic imaging methods (everything from ultrasound examination after nuclear magnetic resonance), or you have decided to skip this part and go directly to the therapist's office with the problem.
The main emphasis must be placed on a comprehensive assessment of the condition of your musculoskeletal system and on revealing the cause of the problem. Only then is it possible to start a meaningful therapy, which can of course be applied at this first visit, if there is time. This initial examination consists of several parts, which complement each other, follow each other and at the end provide the therapist with a comprehensive picture of the condition of your musculoskeletal system. Each of the examination methods and techniques has its justifications. If you are interested in why the therapist is twisting your legs so strangely, do not be afraid to ask. The basis of the success of therapy is mutual cooperation. As soon as something is not clear to you, ask immediately. It's your body and you need it to work. I always try to let my clients know what I'm doing, why I'm doing it and what I want to achieve. Only then is a patient able to continue working with himself. And without your active participation, any therapy is lengthy, if at all possible ...
Anamnesis
For you as a client, the initial examination (and thus the therapy) in the practice begins with a anamneses. Why do I write "for you"? For a therapist, it starts when you walk in the door. Your walk, the way you sit down and put away some of your clothes or bags or backpack, is an interesting collection of information for him, which is worth using. In addition, one usually does not know that he is being closely monitored so soon, and therefore his manifestation is natural, he is not guarded in any way, which cannot always be achieved by certain examinations ... So forget this paragraph before you go to physician. :)
A medical history is an "initial interview" on the basis of which a further detailed examination should be conducted. A detailed and high-quality anamnesis can VERY significantly facilitate all further work. Therefore, it should not be underestimated either by you or by the therapist. I often encounter its misunderstanding on the part of the patient, who does not understand why you ask him for so long and in such detail about so much (according to him) uselessness ... Even if you pay for the therapy yourself, be sure not to be angry if you spend 10 minutes "just talking". It will pay off for you. Even if the questions seem strange to you (Why do you ask me about leg injuries when my back hurts? But my head hurts, why does it delay me with the way I breathe?), You definitely need to answer them truthfully and remember in as much detail as possible. When you prepare in advance, you won't spoil anything. On the contrary - you only save time.
Kinesiological analysis
A thorough cross-examination is followed by a specific kinesiological tests of the musculoskeletal system. In this so-called kinesiological analysis, the therapist is already based on the clues he obtained during the anamnesis. Nevertheless, it is necessary to perform a thorough examination of the entire musculoskeletal system. As I wrote before, the human body is a very complex machine and it can be said that everything is related to everything.
Visual analysis
In addition to the evaluation of the overall static posture (and its individual segments) from all possible sides and angles, it is important to assess the quality of individual movement stereotypes of the human body. In my opinion, quality movement stereotypes are the basis of health and good sports performance. The mechanics of the functioning of the human body cannot be deceived, even if we stand on our heads, unfortunately. Some individuals have problems sooner, some later, but no one escapes.
Palpation
When evaluating the static position of the body and its movements, the second basic pillar of quality diagnostics is palpation. The therapist examines the quality of soft tissue (whether skin, fascia, or muscle), their trophics, tone, and extensibility. Palpation also reveals possible reflex changes in these tissues (trigger points, tender points, hyperalgic skin zones, etc.), with which it is then advisable to work in subsequent therapy. In addition to soft tissue, this part of diagnostics also works with joints, of course, whether it is just a comparison of active and passive momentum in individual joints, or with very specific procedures investigated a very important so-called joint play (joint play). An experienced therapist also has a set of clinical tests in stock, in which pressure, tension or springing in various positions can reveal more serious structural tissue damage (broken ligament, ruptured meniscus, protruding disc or damaged muscle).
Now you know what you should expect on your first visit to a therapist. All questions, penetrating glances and some palpation. :) All these components are important. The information obtained from them should be used to solve a complex puzzle - WHY your body broke down and HOW to fix it ...