If you’ve never been to see a Myotherapist before, you might wonder what to expect. Trying a new type of physical therapy can feel awkward if you don’t know what to expect. In this blog, we explain what to expect during a Myotherapy appointment at CHH!
Arrival
Please arrive 5-10 minutes prior to your first scheduled appointment time so you have time to fill in any new client intake forms.
Referral letter
A referral letter is not necessary in order to see a Myotherapist but if you have one do bring that with you so we can understand your situation as best as possible.
Scans, reports and Medications
Please bring along any scans, reports, X-rays or any tests results
If you are taking Medications - please also bring along a list of these as they enable us to have a greater understanding of your health status and may affect the treatment approach we take.
Conversation, listening and time for you to ask questions
At the start of your first appointment, we will spend some time talking.
Your Myotherapist will ask many questions about your symptoms, medical history, including prior illness and surgery. They will also like to know about your activities, work environment, diet and past injuries.
This conversation is a time for your Myotherapist to understand your health status, specific goals and any concerns you might have, and try to find the underlying cause of the problem and associated pain.
This information is kept in strictest confidence and is used by the therapist to help pinpoint the cause of your symptoms.
Assessment
Next comes the assessment stage to evaluate your range of motion, identifying areas of discomfort and understanding the root causes of your symptoms.
The aim is to determine the most effective treatment for your condition and understand any precautions they will need to make when providing you with hands on treatment.
Assessment may include:
- Palpating bony landmarks and soft tissue
- Range of Motion Testing
- Postural Assessment
- Orthopedic Assessment
- Neurological Testing
Consent and understanding
After both the conversation and assessment components, your Myotherapist will have all of the necessary information to indicate the best path forward in regards to treatment.
Every treatment is customised, based on what will benefit you most in relation to your symptoms, current state of health and goals.
All modalities recommended will be thoroughly discussed with you, to ensure you're comfortable with your treatment plan. You are encouraged to ask any questions you might have about the treatment plan and techniques that we have suggested.
Getting ready for the treatment to start
In most instances, treatment is most optimally applied directly onto the skin/tissue, so your Myotherapist will let you know which pieces of clothing you might need to remove for your treatment. If you have reservations around this please feel free to discuss them. If you wish to wear one of our gowns during treatment please let us know.
Your Myotherapist will leave the room to allow you to remove any layers of clothing necessary. There will be freshly laundered towels to cover yourself.
Your Myotherapist will then drape the towel during your treatment, just exposing the region of skin/tissue required.
Hands-on Therapy
Dependent on your needs and goals, the Myotherapist may undertake a number of hands on treatments, including:
- Deep tissue massage
- Myofascial release
- Trigger point therapy
- Joint mobilisation
- Dry needling (the use of acupuncture needles into restricted/injured muscle tissue)
- Cupping
- Muscle stretching
- TENS therapy (use of a light electrical current for muscle stimulation)
At all times, you can expect open communication with your therapist, who will explain each step and ensure your comfort.
You are always in control of your treatment and can continue to accept or reject any manual therapy treatment.
Reassessment
At the end of your treatment session, your Myotherapist will reassess your range of motion and discomfort levels to determine any changes and effectiveness of the modalities.
Education and self care
Finally, before you leave the treatment room, the Myotherapist will continue to provide education about your condition and treatment options.
They will advise on treatments to use at home, including:
- exercises and stretches specific to your condition
- self-administered massage
- heat packs
- ice packs
They will then work with you to plan your ongoing treatment program and/or the need for referral to other healthcare professionals.
Do Health Funds Cover Myotherapy?
Yes. However, the amount of cover you receive will largely depend on who you are insured with.
Subsequent Consultations
When you next meet with your Myotherapist, they will ask how you progressed after the prior appointment. Then they will repeat any relevant clinical assessments and determine if the hands on treatment plan will remain the same or alter slightly, to enable you to achieve the best outcome.
For more information, please do not hesitate to contact one of the Myotherapists at Canterbury Health Hub.