What to expect in your first session

Booking a first appointment can feel like a step into the unknown, especially if it’s been a while since you’ve seen a physiotherapist. So here’s exactly what happens in your first physiotherapy session for a knee assessment at Tensegrity. No surprises.

Before you arrive

A few things worth knowing up front:

• No referral needed. You can book straight in.
• No scan needed to start. If you already have X-rays or scans, bring them along. If you don’t, that’s completely fine.
• Wear something comfortable. Loose clothing or shorts make it easier to look at how your knee moves.

Your first appointment runs for about 60 minutes, so there’s plenty of time to talk things through without feeling rushed.

Step one: your story

We start by listening. Your physiotherapist will ask about your knee: how long it’s been bothering you, what makes it better or worse, and what it’s stopping you from doing. This part matters more than people expect. The stairs you’re avoiding, the walk you’ve given up, the garden you miss, these tell us what “better” looks like for you.

We’ll also ask about your general health and anything else that might be relevant, so the plan fits your whole situation, not just your knee.

Step two: the assessment

Next, we look at how your knee actually moves and works. This usually includes:

• How the knee bends, straightens and takes load.
• The strength of the muscles around your knee and hip.
• How you walk, balance and manage things like stairs or standing from a chair.

Nothing here is a test you can pass or fail. It simply gives us a clear picture of where you’re starting from, so we can measure your progress later.

Step three: your plan

Once we understand your knee and your goals, your physiotherapist explains what’s going on in plain language, and what we’d recommend. You’ll leave your first session knowing:

• What’s likely contributing to your knee pain.
• What the program would involve for you.
• What realistic progress looks like over the coming weeks.

From there, your program is built around your body and paced to you. Load is increased gradually and kept within comfortable limits, and your plan is adjusted each week based on how your knee responds.

Who you’ll see

In your first physiotherapy session you’ll work one-on-one with your physiotherapist, and you’ll keep seeing the same person. The clinician who assesses you on day one is the one who guides your program, so nothing gets lost along the way and your care stays consistent.

What it costs

We keep this simple and upfront:

• Initial assessment (60 minutes): $115 (normally $175, a limited-spots offer for new patients).
• Ongoing program sessions: $35 each.
• No upfront payment, and no lock-in contract, so you simply pay as you go.

For most private health fund members with the right extras cover, those $35 sessions mean little to no out-of-pocket cost.* Your assessment is claimable too.

Booking your first physiotherapy session

If your knee has been getting in the way, a first assessment is the easiest way to understand your options. You don’t need to have it all figured out. That’s our job.