If you are facing a new injury or have suffered from chronic pain and have asked for Integrative Manual Therapy or were referred by your physician, you may be wondering what the first meeting will be like. Here are 5 things you can expect:
1. You will learn how the Restorative Physical Therapy team can help
Ashley, owner and DPT, says one of the first things she asks her patients is: “Are you familiar with Integrative Manual Therapy (IMT)?” If a patient is uncertain about what it is and what to expect, she takes the time to explain it.
“From the initial evaluation, it is important that patients have a clear understanding of who we are and how we can support them both physically and emotionally,” says Ashley. “It’s the first step in building an open and honest relationship.”
2. You will get Hands-On treatment
Based on diagnostic results, the practitioner will recommend a comprehensive treatment plan to correct tissue dysfunction and restore balance and symmetry to the body. Treatment is similar to diagnostics in that the practitioner uses her hands to manipulate dysfunctional tissue. There are literally hundreds of treatment techniques with the IMT practitioner implementing the most effective ones for each client.
Practitioners of IMT assess and treat by using their hands. The assessment and treatment is integrative by addressing all body systems. The intervention generally involves gentle manipulation and/or mobilizations to promote tissue healing.
3. You will get to ask questions
At Restorative Physical Therapy we want you to know that your treatment is a two-way relationship between you and your Physical Therapist. In every meeting, you have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have about IMT, your pain and your treatment options.
4. You will be at the center of your care
“Every person is different,” says Ashley. “Because of that, it is important to evaluate each person in-depth and understand his or her goals for treatment. This allows us to develop an appropriate individualized plan of care for each patient."
Integrative diagnostics attempts to discover what systems are involved. The practitioner applies gentle pressure with her hands. By doing so the therapist can “feel” and “listen” for impairment or restrictions and determine which structures are contributing to pain and dysfunction. This listening extends from superficial tissue such as muscles, joints and bones to deeper tissue such as lymph, arteries, veins and nerves.
5. We take a whole body (holistic) and self-healing approach
Recognizing that all systems in the human body are inter-connected and influence each other, we implement a “whole body” (holistic) approach to evaluation and treatment.
IMT is based on the premise that the body has the potential to self-heal under right circumstances. A cut or fracture for example may heal on its own but sometimes pain & dysfunction has had too much tissue damage to restore health on its ow
The goal of the initial meeting is to eliminate any confusion surrounding your care. You and your therapist will explore your personal goals and needs. We want you to leave the evaluation feeling both informed and empowered to take the next steps with confidence as you start your journey to restored health.
Already scheduled for your first visit with us? Be sure to check out our Your First Visit page to download the forms you will need.