What to Expect at Your First Physio Appointment

Key Takeaways

• At your first physio appointment, we’ll talk through your injury and health history, assess how you move, explain what we think is going on and start treatment.
• You’ll usually leave your first session with a treatment plan and a few exercises or self-management tips to start at home.
• You don’t need a GP referral to book a physio appointment at Cairnhill Physiotherapy.
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing and bring any scan or X-ray results, previous exercise sheets and ACC information you have.
• If your injury was caused by an accident, we can lodge an ACC claim for you at your appointment, and if ACC accepts it, ACC pays part of your treatment cost.

Wondering what to expect at your first physio appointment? In short, we’ll talk, we’ll assess how you move, we’ll explain what’s going on, and we’ll start treatment. Knowing what happens in the room makes it easier to relax, ask good questions and get more out of the session, especially if you’re sore and unsure what’s wrong.

This guide walks you through a first visit with us at Cairnhill Physiotherapy in Epsom, from booking to the plan you leave with. It also covers what to wear, what to bring and how ACC and health insurance work.

Do You Need a Referral for Your First Physio Appointment?

No. In New Zealand, you can book directly with a physiotherapist without seeing your GP first. Physiotherapy New Zealand notes that physiotherapists are registered health professionals who can lodge an ACC claim for you, and that you don’t need a referral from your doctor.

There is one exception. Some private health insurers ask you to see a GP before they will approve physiotherapy. Check your policy if you plan to claim. We cover this in more detail in our blog, Do I Need a GP Referral for Physiotherapy?

Before Your Appointment: What to Wear and What to Bring

Wear clothing that lets your physio see and move the area that hurts. For a knee or ankle problem, shorts are ideal. For a neck or shoulder issue, a singlet or loose top works well. If you forget, we can provide shorts and modesty gowns.

Bring anything that helps us understand your injury:

• scan or X-ray results
• a referral letter, if you have one from a doctor or specialist
• exercise sheets from previous physio or rehab
• your ACC information, if you already have a claim number
• a list of medications you take regularly

You’re welcome to bring a support person to any of your appointments. Some people like having a second set of ears when their treatment plan is explained.

Plan to arrive a few minutes early. Our clinic at 95 Mountain Road has free car parking onsite.

What to Expect at Your First Physio Appointment, Step by Step

Your first appointment has four parts: a conversation, a physical assessment, an explanation of what we’ve found and the start of treatment. Every appointment at Cairnhill is one on one, with your physiotherapist’s full attention for the whole session.

1. Talking Through Your Injury and History

Your physio will start by asking questions. Expect to be asked:

• how and when the pain started, and whether there was a specific incident
• where you feel it, and whether it spreads anywhere else
• what makes it worse and what eases it
• how it affects your work, sleep or sport
• about your general health and any past injuries or surgery
• what you want to get back to doing

2. The Physical Assessment

Next, your physio will look at how the sore area moves and how it’s affecting the rest of your body. This usually involves:

• watching you move, such as walking, squatting or reaching overhead
• checking how far the sore area and the joints around it can move
• testing strength and flexibility
• gently feeling the area to find where the tissue is irritated
• looking at how you move, in case something is putting extra strain on the injured area

If tingling or numbness is part of the picture, your physio may also check sensation and reflexes. You stay in control the whole time. Tell your physio if a test is too painful, and they’ll adjust it or stop.

3. Explaining What Is Going On

Once the assessment is done, your physio will explain what they found. You should leave understanding:

• what is most likely causing your pain
• whether anything needs further investigation, such as a scan or a review with your GP
• what recovery is likely to look like
• what you can safely keep doing in the meantime

If something doesn’t make sense, ask. We would much rather explain twice than have you leave confused. Educating patients about their injury is a big part of how we work, because people who understand their injury are better placed to manage it between sessions.

4. Starting Treatment

In most cases, treatment starts in the first session. Depending on your injury and how recent it is, this might include:

• hands-on treatment, such as joint mobilisation or massage
• acupuncture, if it suits your condition and you’re comfortable with it
• taping for support
• a small number of targeted exercises to start at home

Your physio can give you a personalised programme from our online exercise library to follow at home.

Will Your First Physio Appointment Hurt?

Your assessment shouldn’t hurt much more than your everyday symptoms. Some tests briefly reproduce your pain, because that helps your physio pinpoint the source, but these are short and only done with your consent.

Feeling a little sore for a day or two after hands-on treatment or new exercises is normal. If pain is sharply worse or lasts longer than that, let your physio know before your next session and they can adjust the plan. If you develop new numbness, weakness or other symptoms that worry you, see your GP or call Healthline on 0800 611 116 for free health advice.

What You Leave With After Your First Session

By the end of your first appointment, you should have:

• a clear explanation of your injury
• a treatment plan, including roughly how often your physio would like to see you
• a short set of exercises or self-management advice to start at home
• an ACC claim lodged, if your injury was caused by an accident
• a follow-up appointment booked, if you need one

Wondering how many appointments you’re likely to need? Read our guide, How Many Physio Sessions Will I Need?

How ACC and Health Insurance Work at Your First Visit

If your injury was caused by an accident, such as a sports injury, a fall or a work incident, you may be covered by ACC. You don’t need to lodge the claim yourself first. We’re an ACC-accredited clinic, and we can help you fill out the ACC 45 Injury Claim Form during your appointment. ACC then decides whether to accept the claim.

When a claim is accepted, ACC pays part of the cost of your treatment and you pay a surcharge. Your fee also depends on whether you see an associate physiotherapist or a senior physiotherapist. Our current fees for a first appointment are:

First appointment	ACC injury (surcharge)	Private
Associate physiotherapist	$62	$138
Senior physiotherapist	$75	$151

A $7 charge applies for any materials used during your treatment. See our pricing page for follow-up fees, and our ACC physio claims page for how claims work.

If you have Southern Cross health insurance, we’re a Southern Cross Easy Claim provider. Give reception your membership number and we can check on the spot whether your policy covers part or all of your surcharge and, if you’re eligible, charge Southern Cross directly. Cover varies between policies, and reception will let you know if there is anything left to pay.

Questions to Ask at Your First Physio Appointment

Ask anything that helps you understand your injury and your plan. Many patients think of questions on the drive home. Jotting a few down before you arrive helps. Useful ones include:

• What do you think is causing my pain?
• What can I keep doing, and what should I avoid for now?
• How long do you expect recovery to take?
• How will we know if treatment is working?
• What should I do if the pain flares up between sessions?
• Do I need a scan, or should I see my GP?

Common Worries About a First Physio Visit

Most first-time worries are about whether the problem is “bad enough”, or not knowing what’s wrong. Neither should stop you booking.

“My Pain Isn’t Bad Enough for Physio”

You don’t need a severe injury to see a physio. Niggles that keep coming back, stiffness that has hung around for weeks or pain that stops you exercising are all good reasons to book. Small problems are often easier to sort out when they’re caught early.

“I Don’t Know What’s Wrong”

That’s what the first appointment is for. You don’t need a diagnosis before you come in. If you’d like to understand your symptoms a little more beforehand, our blog on how to tell if your pain is muscle, joint or nerve is a good place to start.

“I’ve Had Surgery or Been Told I Need It”

Physio plays a big part before and after many operations, including knee and hip replacements, ACL reconstructions and shoulder surgery. Bring any notes or instructions from your surgeon. You can read more about our pre and post-operative rehabilitation.

Book Your First Appointment at Cairnhill Physiotherapy

Our clinic has been caring for Aucklanders since 1973. Every appointment is one on one, and we take the time to explain your injury and build a plan around the things you want to get back to. Have a look at our FAQ if you have any other questions.

We’re open Monday to Friday, 7am to 6pm, with free onsite parking at 95 Mountain Road, Epsom. Book online, call us on 09 631 5991, or meet our physios first.