Importance of Keeping Your PT Appointments
by Megan Long, DPT

In the journey towards recovery from injury or illness, physical therapy (PT) appointments serve as crucial milestones. Yet, the importance of attending these appointments is often overlooked. Consistent attendance not only helps you stick with the treatment plan but also significantly improves your recovery time. In this blog, we’ll delve into the importance of keeping your PT appointments.

1. Adherence to Treatment Plans

Physical therapy appointments are designed by your PT to address specific needs and goals outlined in a treatment plan that was made just for you. Consistent attendance not only helps you to stick with the plan, but also allows us to track your progress and make adjustments as we need to in order to make sure we are doing our best to reach your goals. Missing appointments will affect the progress toward these goals.

2. Regular Check-ins

Your PT appointment is an opportunity to check in with your therapist to discuss how you’ve been feeling, how you felt after your exercises at the last appointment and if there have been any changes with your injury. Sometimes it’s hard to see the progress in your daily life so these appointments help us to look back through your notes and track your progress.

3. Monitored Progress Through Protocols

Keeping your PT appointment (especially after surgery) allows us to progress your exercises as appropriate. It gives us a chance to increase the intensity, duration and complexity of your exercises. Who wants to do the same exercises every day?

4. Prevention of Complications and Setbacks

Regular PT appointments give us the opportunity for early detection and intervention if complications or setbacks come up during your recovery process. We can assess why this may have happened and adjust your exercises accordingly.

5. Empowerment Through Education and Support

Your appointment is valuable time to have conversations with your PT about your recovery, including any questions or concerns you may have. We are here to educate you and support you in your recovery.

6. Speedier Recovery

Research shows that when you stick with your regular PT appointments, your recovery is shorter. We spend time in the evaluation on your first visit to assess the issue and recommend the physical therapy that we think is appropriate. With regular appointments we will get you up and back to your life faster.

Keeping your physical therapy appointment is such an important part in your overall recovery. We are here to help as much as we can to get you back to your life and the activities you want to be doing. By prioritizing physical therapy, you are setting yourself up for success in your recovery.