What to expect at your first physiotherapy appointment
Your first physiotherapy appointment at Adapt in North Sydney is an assessment: your physiotherapist takes the history of the problem, looks at how you move, explains what they found and starts a plan. No referral is needed to book. A first visit usually runs 45 to 60 minutes. Written by Dr Sam Baylis on 14 June 2026.
What happens during a first physiotherapy appointment?
A first visit, often called an initial assessment, has three stages that run in one sitting. The same physiotherapist takes the history, does the movement testing and agrees the plan with you before you leave.
- History. Your physiotherapist asks when the problem started, what eases or aggravates it, how you train or work, and what you want the plan to support.
- Movement and physical assessment. They look at range, strength, how you load the area and how symptoms behave, using the tests that fit what you presented with.
- Findings and plan. They explain what they found, including a working diagnosis where that is appropriate, and outline treatment and exercise as the next steps.
Do I need a referral to see a physiotherapist in Australia?
No. You can book a physio at Adapt without a GP letter. Bring a referral, scans or a surgeon's protocol if you have them, because they help the assessment.
A referral can still matter for some extras policies and for GP chronic condition management plans. Tell us before you book and we will confirm how that applies. Adapt is not bulk billed. Fees are confirmed before you book, and you can read how claiming works on fees and rebates.
How long first and follow-up appointments run
The first visit is longer so your physiotherapist can take a full history before treating and setting exercises. Follow-ups are shorter and build on that plan.
| First appointment | Follow-up | |
|---|---|---|
| Time | Usually 45 to 60 minutes | Usually 30 to 45 minutes |
| Focus | History, movement testing, findings and the first plan | Progress review, treatment where it helps and exercise changes |
What should I bring to a first physio appointment?
- Clothes that let your physiotherapist see and move the area that is bothering you. Shorts help for hip, knee or back assessments.
- Scans or reports if you have them. They are useful context and are not required to book.
- Your health fund card if you plan to claim, and any GP plan paperwork if you have one.
- A clear note of what makes symptoms better or worse, when they started, and which activities they affect.
What presentations does physiotherapy at Adapt see?
The team sees muscle and joint problems across the body, including back pain and sciatica, shoulder rehab, ACL reconstruction, knee replacement and rehab after surgery. Running, gym and sport injuries sit with the same physiotherapists.
If you are not sure physiotherapy is the right appointment, call 0417 214 945 or send a message and the team will point you to the right starting point.
Can I claim physiotherapy on extras cover?
A physio appointment may be claimable when your extras cover includes physiotherapy. The amount your fund pays depends on your policy. You pay at the end of the visit and receive a receipt to claim with.
Gym access, training programs and strength testing are not claimable. Cancellation needs 24 hours notice. See fees and rebates for how Adapt handles receipts and missed appointments.
Questions about a first physio visit
Book a physioCan I bring someone with me to a first physio appointment?
Yes. A partner, parent or friend can sit in if that helps you remember the plan. Tell reception when you arrive so the room is set for an extra person. Your physiotherapist still needs to see and move the area being assessed, so wear clothes that make that easy.
Should I book a follow-up before I leave my first visit?
Often yes, because the next appointment is shorter and builds on the plan you leave with. Your physiotherapist will say whether a follow-up is useful and how soon. You can book that before you go, or later online once you know your week.
What if I already have a diagnosis from a GP or surgeon?
Bring the letter, protocol or scans. Your physiotherapist still assesses how you move now, then writes the Adapt plan around that advice. After surgery, rehab follows the surgeon's protocol, and gym sessions start when that protocol and the physiotherapist allow it.
Will I do gym exercises in a first physio appointment?
Often you leave with exercises for home or the gym, and treatment can start in the same visit when it helps. If supervised floor work fits the plan, that is set as gym-based physiotherapy rather than turned into extra consults on the day.