GETTING STARTED
Getting Started
Everything You Need to Know Before Your First Visit
Welcome
Choosing a physical therapy clinic is an important decision, and we want your first visit to be as comfortable and straightforward as possible.
Whether you’re recovering from surgery, managing an injury, experiencing pain for the first time, or simply looking to move better, our goal is to make the process easy—from scheduling your first appointment through your final visit.
Below are answers to many of the questions we hear from new patients. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, our team is always happy to help.
Scheduling Your First Appointment
Getting started is simple.
You can schedule an appointment by:
- Calling our office at (207) 213-6262
- Requesting an appointment through our website
- Asking your physician to send us a referral. Our fax number is (207) 358-2301
- Contacting us directly if you’re unsure where to begin
If you’re not certain whether physical therapy is the right place to start, we’re happy to answer your questions and help point you in the right direction.
Do I Need a Referral?
In many cases, no.
Maine’s Direct Access law allows many patients to begin physical therapy without first obtaining a physician referral.
Some insurance plans, workers’ compensation claims, VA referrals, and certain medical situations may still require authorization or a referral. If that’s the case, our staff will help guide you through the process.
Insurance & Payment
We participate with many commercial insurance plans, Medicare, VA Community Care, and Workers’ Compensation programs.
Because every insurance plan is different, we recommend contacting our office before your appointment if you have questions regarding your specific coverage.
Our staff is happy to verify your benefits and explain what to expect before your first visit.
HOW TO FIND US
Phone: (207) 213-6262
Fax: (207) 358-2301
Mailing Address: 46 Bangor st. Suite 3, Augusta, Maine 04330
From Waterville (North of clinic): We recommend taking the Augusta/Belfast exit and head south to Bangor st.
From Manchester, Monmoth, Readfield (East of clinic): Take Western Avenue and cross The Memorial Bridge to Bangor St.
From Chelsea, Randolph, Pittston, Gardiner (South of clinic): Take ME-9 E to the roundabout at the Cony Hannaford to Bangor St.
From West Gardiner, Litchfield, Green area (Southeast of clinic): it may be easiest and fastest to take I-295 to I-95 to the Belfast/Augusta exit, and then east to Bangor st.
What Happens During My First Visit?
Your first appointment is much more than an evaluation. We take our time to understand why you need physical therapy. This is why our evaluations are scheduled for 60 minutes. Just as a strong foundation is essential when building a house, a comprehensive evaluation is essential for developing an effective treatment plan. We believe a comprehensive evaluation is a key to effective care.
Check-in
We advise arriving 15 minutes early. When you arrive, you will see that we do not have a front office person. Our front office is virtual. Your therapist will go through the check in process with you. You may be asked to fill out paperwork if you have not done this online. This may also include an outcome score, which is a series of questions that ask you about your injury and level of disability or function. If your insurance requires you to pay a copay, we will collect it at this time.
If you would like to review our intake paperwork, which includes our privacy policy, credit card policy, financial policy, and other important information, please click the link below to download a PDF of the paperwork.
Patient History
After you are checked in, we will spend time getting to know you, understanding your concerns, discussing your goals. This includes taking a comprehensive history, reviewing imaging (if necessary), reviewing other medical reports, and asking pertinent questions about your injury. Any information you have, even if it does not seem relevant, may be important.
Clinical Exam
Once we have enough information to clue us in to what areas we need to assess, we will perform a clinical exam. This includes performing tests and measures to establish your impairments and functional limitations. This includes measuring range of motion and strength, performing tests that stress tissues so that we can identify what is wrong, and/or having you perform tests that test your physical ability. Some of these tests elicit pain. It is not our intention to worsen your condition; however, to understand what is going on, we need to perform these tests. We do our best to be cautious and respectful of the amount of pain you are experiencing when we do these tests.
After the history and physical exam, your therapist will explain:
- What we believe is contributing to your problem
- Why you’re experiencing your symptoms
- What your recovery is likely to look like
- How physical therapy can help
- What you can begin doing immediately
Whenever appropriate, treatment will begin during your first visit. Our goal is for every patient to leave their initial evaluation with a better understanding of their condition and a clear plan moving forward.
How Often Will I Need Physical Therapy?
Every patient is different.
After the history and clinical exam is complete, your therapist will discuss a plan of care with you. This defines the frequency and duration of your visits. This depends on several factors, including:
- Your diagnosis
- Severity of your condition
- Stage of healing
- Personal goals
- Physical demands
- Your schedule
- Insurance considerations
Rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach, we’ll recommend a treatment plan based on the best available evidence and your individual needs.
As you improve, we’ll gradually reduce the frequency of visits while helping you become more independent with your home exercise program.
Your Home Exercise Program
Recovery doesn’t stop when you leave the clinic.
Your therapist will develop an individualized home exercise program designed to complement your treatment in the clinic. We use an online system that you can access simply by entering your birth date. This system provides you with pictures, an explanation of your exercises, and any specific notes your therapist needs to include. If you are not a computer whiz and wish to have a paper copy of your exercise program, we can provide you with one as well.
We’ll explain not only what to do, but why each exercise is important and how it fits into your recovery.
What Should I Wear?
Wear comfortable clothing that allows your therapist to examine the area being treated.
Some examples include:
- Knee or Hip: Athletic shorts
- Shoulder: Tank top or loose-fitting T-shirt
- Neck or Back: Comfortable athletic clothing
- Foot or Ankle: Shorts and supportive shoes
Whenever possible, dress so the involved area can be easily examined without restricting movement.
Please note, that we are an open-concept clinic. Unfortunately, we do not have a private treatment room. If privacy is needed for the evaluation process, we have a changing room to quickly assess you, however the space is limited. For more privacy, we will schedule your appointment at the beginning or end of the day when the clinic is less busy or see you on the weekend. Your comfort is important to us, and we’ll always do our best to accommodate your privacy needs.
What Should I Bring?
Please bring:
- Your insurance card
- A photo ID
- Physician referral (if we did not receive one, of if you have been provided one)
- Imaging reports (if available)
- A list of current medications (if requested)
- Any braces, splints, orthotics, or assistive devices you currently use
- An assistive device, if you use one (crutches, walker, rollator)
- A desire to get better!
Workers’ Compensation
If your injury occurred at work, we’ll work closely with your physician, employer, case manager, and workers’ compensation carrier to help coordinate your care and facilitate a safe return to work.
Worker’s Compensation requires a referral for physical therapy and authorization from a case manager. If you have this information, we can start physical therapy quickly. If you do not, we will work with you to get this information. It is important to know that you may request Forza Physical Therapy if physical therapy has been recommended to you. (link to work comp page)
Please let us know when scheduling if your injury is work-related so we can ensure we have the necessary information before your appointment.
VA Community Care
As a veteran-owned practice, we’re proud to care for veterans throughout Central Maine.
If you’re receiving care through the VA Community Care Network, we’ll help coordinate your referral and schedule your evaluation as soon as authorization is received.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I see the same physical therapist every visit?
Yes. One of the principles that sets Forza apart is continuity of care. Whenever possible, you’ll work with the same therapist who performed your initial evaluation so they can monitor your progress and adjust your treatment plan as needed.
How long is each appointment?
Initial evaluations typically last about an hour. Follow-up visits generally range from 30 to 60 minutes depending on your condition and treatment plan.
Will physical therapy hurt?
Some discomfort can be a normal part of rehabilitation, but treatment should never feel overwhelming or unsafe. We’ll explain what to expect, monitor your response closely, and adjust your treatment based on your symptoms and goals.
What if I need to cancel my appointment?
We understand that unexpected situations arise. If you need to cancel or reschedule, please contact our office as soon as possible so we can offer that appointment time to another patient. You may call or text (207) 213-6262
What if physical therapy isn’t helping?
One of the advantages of receiving care at Forza is that we work closely with your physician and other healthcare providers. If your progress isn’t meeting expectations, we’ll discuss the next steps, communicate our findings, and help determine whether additional evaluation or treatment is appropriate.
How do I know if I’m making progress?
Progress isn’t measured by pain alone.
Throughout your care, we’ll evaluate improvements in strength, mobility, function, and your ability to return to the activities that matter most to you. Our goal is meaningful, lasting improvement—not just temporary symptom relief.
Ready to Get Started?
Our goal isn’t simply to help you feel better. It’s to help you understand your condition, regain your confidence, and return to doing what matters most to you.
Schedule your first appointment today and discover what individualized, evidence-based physical therapy can do for you.