Walking into physical therapy for the first time can feel a little intimidating — especially if you're dealing with shoulder or elbow pain that's been slowing you down for weeks. At TKM Labs in Salt Lake City, we've built the first visit around one goal: giving you clarity on what's going on and a plan you actually believe in.
1. A conversation, not an interrogation
Your Doctor of Physical Therapy starts by listening. We want to hear the whole story — how the injury started, what makes it flare up, what you've already tried, and what you're hoping to get back to (climbing at the Front, throwing a ball with your kid, sleeping through the night). Bring anything relevant: imaging, prior notes, or a list of medications.
2. A movement-based evaluation
Instead of a generic checklist, we run a hands-on assessment tailored to shoulder and elbow rehab. Expect range-of-motion testing, strength and stability screens, and specific orthopedic tests. If something we see needs imaging or a specialist, we'll tell you directly.
3. Your working diagnosis and plan
Before you leave, you'll walk out knowing what we think is happening, what the plan looks like, and roughly how long the road is. We keep the plan realistic and rooted in evidence — no upsells, no open-ended care.
4. First treatment, same day
Most patients start treatment on visit one. That could mean manual therapy, dry needling, blood flow restriction training, or a short home program to get you moving before the next visit.
What to plan for after
Expect to feel a little sore the next day the way you might after a good workout — that's normal. If anything spikes, let us know. Our job is to make progress you can feel, week over week.
Ready to book your first visit? Get started here.