So, you haven’t been to Revolve Physiotherapy before and thus, you are not sure what to expect from your first visit. Not to worry, you can read our physiotherapy FAQ here below, to set your expectations and prepare yourself.
Do I need a referral to see a physiotherapist?
Whilst you may have been given a referral by your doctor or specialist, it is not required to see a physiotherapist. Please let our admin team know when booking your appointment if you have been given a referral, and please bring a copy to your appointment if you have one.
What is the difference between pelvic health and general initial appointment?
A pelvic health initial appointment is a 60 minute appointment as there is much more detail and information needed in an initial consult. It is important that your therapist gets a really clear understanding of your presentation and concerns, and a pelvic health appointment will generally cover bladder and bowel function, sexual function, obstetric and gynaecologic history (for females), general health and wellbeing, current exercise, any surgeries/procedures/scans you may have had, and goal setting. This often takes around 30-40 mins of talking before we move onto the physical exam, so there is just not enough time for all of this in a 30 minute general appointment!
A general appointment is for all other general physiotherapy concerns, including sports, workplace injuries and pre/post surgery consults. You also have the option of booking an extended consult if you wanted more time for treatment or have a particularly complex history
How many appointments will I need?
Good question! This is a tricky one to answer without having had an assessment first, and the answer varies greatly. A minor injury may settle with 2-4 treatments, whereas some injuries may take 10-15 treatments. Don’t worry though, as this is something that your physiotherapist will discuss with you, when you are working together to determine your treatment plan.
Do I need to see my GP or have any scans before seeing a physio?
No you don’t. Physiotherapy is what is called a primary contact practice, which means you can make an appointment without seeing a GP or having a referral.
You also don’t need to have had scans before having an appointment. If you have already had a scan however, please bring in the report if you have it so we can have a look.
If, based on our assessment, we think that you need a scan, we can write a referral for you, or can liase with your GP to organise a referral.
Can I bring my baby/toddler to my appointment?
Of course!
I have hurt myself at work, can I see a physiotherapist straight away?
Sort of. It is best that we see you as soon as possible, to help identify the problem and to start treatment, to get you pain free and back to work as soon as possible.
However, for your treatment to be covered by WorkCover, you first must see your GP, submit a claim and then have your claim approved.
This process can take a little bit of time, so what we recommend, if possible, is that you start physiotherapy treatment as soon as possible, which you pay for privately. Once the above process is complete and the claim approved, the insurer will generally re-imburse you of your costs. Please speak to us about your individual circumstances if you have any questions about this.
I am pregnant. Do I need a general appointment or a pelvic health consult?
All pregnancy and post-natal appointments come under the pelvic health umbrella and therefore require a pelvic health consult.
I am a current patient and have been seeing a physio at Revolve during my pregnancy. I have now had my baby and want to book a 6 week check-up. What appointment do I book?
All 6 week postnatal appointments require a 60 minute pelvic health initial appointment, even if you have been seen at the clinic before. This is because there are lots of things to go over, such as the birth, bladder and bowel function since delivery and exercise. We also assess for any abdominal separation, assess pelvic floor function and scar healing (if required).
What should I expect at my inital pelvic health appointment?
Your first appointment will begin with a long chat with your physio. This will give you a chance to explain your current symptoms and what’s prompted you to seek treatment. It will also give your physio a chance to ask lots of physiotherapy FAQ regarding your pelvic health.
These important commonly asked physiotherapy questions will be based around your bladder and bowel function, sexual function, obstetric and gynaecologic history (females) , general health and wellbeing, current exercise, any surgeries/procedures/scans you may have had, and goal setting. Some of these questions can be quite personal, however they are all very relevant and important to get a thorough picture of your individual presentation, which is vital to help give you an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.
How do you assess the pelvic floor?
There are several ways that we can assess the pelvic floor, however the best way to do this is via an internal vaginal or rectal exam. This is only ever done with your consent, and your physio will discuss this with you in detail before proceeding. There are also other methods of assessing the pelvic floor if an internal exam isn’t an appropriate option for you.
Do I need to reschedule my appointment if I am expecting an internal exam and I have my period?
Having your period does not mean you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment. We are still able to perform internal exams if you have your period, however if you would prefer not to, there are other ways that we can assess the pelvic floor. Feel free to give us a call and ask to speak to your physiotherapist if you have any questions or concerns about this in regards to your specific condition and treatment.
I've been given a diagnosis for my pelvic health concerns but I don't really know what it means
Don’t worry, you are definitely not alone here! As part of your initial consult, your physio will spend plenty of time ensuring that you understand what your findings and diagnosis are, and how to manage it. Education is a really important part of our treatment, and one that we spend a lot of time on. The pelvis can be a complicated part of the body, so it is crucial that you understand what is happening and why in order to optimise your treatment outcomes.
