What Happens in a PT Eval?

Whether you're dealing with a nagging injury, returning to sport, or just want to move better, your first physical therapy visit sets the tone for everything that follows. But let’s be honest: if you’ve never been before, you might be wondering…

“Am I going to be stretched out the whole time?”
“Will they just watch me do exercises?”
“What even happens during a PT eval?”

Let’s walk through it so you know exactly what to expect AND feel totally confident stepping into your first session.

Step 1: We Talk. A Lot.

We start with a conversation. I want to know your story, not just your pain. We’ll talk about:

• What brought you in

• When it started and what makes it better/worse

• Your training or activity level

• Sleep, stress, nutrition, and lifestyle factors

• Your goals (whether that’s running a marathon, lifting without pain, or chasing your kid around)

This part is important because your body doesn't operate in isolation. What you do outside of the gym or run matters just as much as what you do in it.

Step 2: We Assess How You Move

This is where we get hands-on.

Depending on what you’re coming in for, I’ll look at:

• Mobility – Are your joints moving the way they should?

• Strength – Are certain muscle groups underactive or compensating?

• Balance & Stability – How well does your body control movement?

• Functional Movements – Squats, lunges, running, jumping, lifting, whatever’s relevant to YOU.

This isn’t about finding flaws, it’s about finding opportunities for progress.

Step 3: We Connect the Dots

I’ll explain what I see and how it connects to your pain, injury, or performance plateau. My goal is to make it make sense so you understand what’s going on, why it’s happening, and what we can do about it.

No medical jargon. No vague guesses. Just clear info tailored to your body.

Step 4: We Get to Work

Even during the first session, we usually start some treatment. That might include:

• Manual therapy (hands-on techniques)

• Targeted exercises or mobility work

• Movement retraining

• Pain relief strategies you can use at home

You’ll leave knowing exactly what the next steps are, and often with a simple plan to start implementing right away.

Step 5: We Make a Plan Together

There’s no cookie-cutter timeline here. We’ll create a plan based on your:

• Goals

• Schedule

• Lifestyle

• Response to treatment

Some people just need a few visits. Others want longer-term support to keep progressing in sport or fitness. Either way, you’re in the driver’s seat.

A PT Evaluation Is All About You

It’s not just an injury screen. It’s a full-body, whole-person approach to understanding:

Why you’re feeling what you’re feeling
What needs to change
How to fix it and keep it from coming back

Ready to get to the root of your pain or performance plateau?
Let’s build a plan that helps you move better, feel stronger, and get back to doing what you love.

Book your FREE consultation or first visit today! https://yourmovephysicaltherapy.janeapp.com/#staff_member/1