Page 9 - A Guide to Physical and Occupational Therapy for CMT

What to Expect at Your OT or PT Appointments:

During your first visit, the therapist will conduct an initial evaluation, which
will involve taking a thorough history to understand the development and
progression of your symptoms. The therapist may inquire about tests or
evaluations performed by other health care professionals. He or she will need
to know about any other medical conditions or surgeries that may also affect
your current situation.

The therapist will conduct a physical examination to document the impact
of your nerve involvement on your sensation, muscle strength and flexibility.
Physical therapists will assess how these impairments affect your functional
abilities with respect to your mobility, balance and endurance. Occupational
therapists will focus on how these impairments affect your work and daily life.

The therapist will also assess if functional abilities are affected at all by pain,
as well as screen other systems of the body to assess for other problems that
may be affecting your functional abilities. Different tools may be used to collect
information in a standardized way to monitor your condition over time. This
might include strength and sensory testing and measures of functional abilities,
such as balance and walking or tasks involving the hands.