What to expect from home health care physical therapy

You’ve just scheduled your first home health care appointment for physical therapy, and you aren’t sure what to expect. Many people are in the same boat; the home health concept may be old, but applying it to physical therapy is pretty new. So, what should you do to prepare for your appointment? And are you sacrificing the quality of service by opting for an in-home appointment instead of in-office?

When your physical therapist shows up at your house, he or she will have everything needed to ensure that your PT progress stays on track. We bring our own mobile equipment for strengthening and stretching your muscles and joints, so don’t worry about having to buy anything ahead of time. 

The step-by-step of a home health care physical therapy appointment

An at-home physical therapy appointment will follow most of the same routine as your in-office appointments. However, to make sure things flow smoothly, here are a few factors to consider before your physical therapist comes to your home:

• Consider your surroundings —You should have a large, empty space available to perform your at-home physical therapy appointment. Remember, you will need room for you and your physical therapist to move around, so make sure your space is free of clutter and furnishings (at least enough for two people to stretch and exercise).
• Dress appropriately —You should wear the same attire you would wear to your in-office physical therapy appointment. Choose comfortable clothes that you can stretch in and supportive, close-toed shoes. 
• Hydrate — Have a bottle of water ready in your appointment area so you don’t have to disrupt the appointment to get something to drink. 

Typically, at-home appointments stay pretty true to in-office appointments, with just a change of location. If you’d like to learn more about what to expect for your first home health physical therapy appointment, contact our team at Back in Motion today.