Planner
When should you see a physiotherapist — and what happens in a session?
This is the practical companion to the homepage essay. Use it to decide whether to book a registered physiotherapist, what the first hour is for, and when you should be in an emergency department instead.
At a glance
- Private physio in Australia
- Usually no referral
- The core of visit one
- History + exam
- So the joint can be seen
- Wear movement clothes
- This page is not triage
- ED if red flags
When a physiotherapy appointment is a reasonable idea
Consider booking a registered physiotherapist when:
- a sprain, strain, or joint pain is not settling over several days
- pain keeps returning with the same task (desk, lift, paddle, run)
- you are preparing for or recovering from an operation and your surgical team wants allied health involved
- you want a movement assessment before you invent a gym program
See a GP first — or as well — if you have unexplained weight loss, fever, a complex medical history, or you simply want medical screening. See emergency care for the red-flag list on the FAQ.
What happens in a session
Most first visits, in plain language:
- Paperwork and consent
- Your story — onset, 24-hour pattern, work, sport, sleep
- Screening questions — including items that would send you elsewhere
- Physical assessment — how you stand, walk, reach, squat, or breathe, depending on the problem
- A working explanation — with uncertainty if the picture is mixed
- A plan — what you will try, what to stop, when to come back if that is appropriate
Hands-on treatment is optional, not a score. Exercise may be the main event.
What to wear and what to bring
Shorts for a knee or hip. A loose top for a shoulder or neck. Shoes you actually use for the activity. A list of medicines. Imaging if you already have it. A friend if you want a second pair of ears.
Funding, said once
- Private extras — ask the fund.
- Medicare CDM / team care — ask the GP whether you are eligible; session caps exist and change.
- Workplace claims — ask the employer and insurer.
This site quotes none of those dollar figures.
After the session
You should leave knowing what the clinician thinks is going on for now, what you consented to, and how to contact them if something unexpected happens. You should not leave thinking a website predicted your outcome.
Questions, answers first
What people ask on this topic
When pain, stiffness, weakness, or a movement limit lasts more than a few days, keeps returning, or follows injury or surgery — unless emergency features are present.
When should I see a physiotherapist?
History, physical assessment, a working explanation, and a plan. Not a guaranteed one-visit fix.
What happens in a first physio appointment?
Clothing you can move in that exposes or loosens the relevant area, plus any existing reports or braces.
What to wear to physio?
Usually no. Some Medicare, insurer, or workplace pathways still involve a GP.
Do I need a GP referral for physio in Australia?
Still deciding?
The FAQ answers funding and red-flag questions in one place. We still cannot book you a clinician.