What to Expect at Franklin Physical Therapy
A walkthrough of your care from the first call to your last session.
Before Your First Visit
Most people don't know exactly what to expect when they walk into a physical therapy clinic for the first time. This page walks through the process from start to finish so you know what you're getting into before you even book.
Your First Call or Consultation
Getting started doesn't require a doctor's note or a referral, though Medicare patients do need a physician's script. You can call us at (973) 531-7592, fill out the contact form on our website, or stop by the clinic. We'll set up a consultation, usually within 48 hours, to hear what's going on, answer your questions, and confirm that we're a good fit for what you need.
Your Initial Evaluation
Your first full appointment is a one-on-one evaluation with your therapist. Plan for 45 to 60 minutes. We'll go over your history, assess your movement and strength, and identify what's driving the problem. By the end of the evaluation, you'll have a clear picture of what treatment will involve and a realistic sense of how long it will take. There's no pressure to commit before you're ready. If your situation calls for a different specialist or approach, we'll tell you.
Starting Treatment
Treatment begins at your next visit. Every session is one-on-one with a licensed therapist. Your plan of care is built around what your evaluation found, not a standard protocol. If you're coming in for a condition that involves significant pain or limited mobility, the early sessions focus on reducing pain and restoring range of motion before building toward strength and function. The program evolves as you do. Most patients come in 2 to 3 times per week early in treatment. That frequency typically decreases as you improve. Sessions run 30 to 60 minutes.
Progressing Through Care
We track your progress at every visit. When the plan needs to change, it changes. You're not locked into a fixed program that doesn't adapt. For most conditions, you'll start to notice real improvement within the first few weeks. Timelines vary by condition and severity, and we'll give you an honest picture of what to expect at your evaluation and update it as your care progresses. You won't hear "let's just do a few more weeks" if it's not adding value. If PT isn't the right next step at some point in your care, we'll say so.
Graduating from Care
The goal is to get you to a point where you don't need to come in anymore. Before you finish treatment, we'll make sure you have a clear home program and understand how to manage your condition on your own. Many patients check back in periodically or return when something new comes up.
Starting with Home Visits
For patients who start with home visits, the transition to the clinic is a natural part of the process. We monitor your progress at each home visit and when making the commute is realistic, we’ll walk you through what clinic-based care looks like from there. Since you’ve already been working with us, there’s no restart. You pick up right where you left off.
Ready to Get Started?
Book a consultation at our Franklin, NJ clinic. We’ll walk through what’s going on and put together a plan.