What happens on your first visit
Your first appointment at Curated PT in Needham is a full 60 minutes, one-on-one with Dr. Suren Azizian. It is a conversation, a physical examination, hands-on treatment on the same day, and a written plan you leave with. No aides, no shared time, no being handed a photocopied exercise sheet.
Before you come
What to wear
Clothes you can move and be examined in. Shorts if the problem is a hip, knee, ankle or foot. A vest or a t-shirt you do not mind rolling up if it is a shoulder, neck or back. Trainers if you run or lift.
What to bring
Any imaging reports or surgical notes you already have, and a list of what you have already tried. If you want a superbill for your insurer, bring your insurance details.
When to arrive
Five minutes early is plenty. Paperwork is short and can be done in advance.
Where to go
292 Reservoir St, Needham, MA 02494 — inside PEX Health and Fitness. Call or text 339-200-9422 if you are outside and unsure where to go.
The 60 minutes
- The history — roughly 10 to 15 minutesNot a form. An actual conversation about when this started, what makes it worse, what you have already tried, what you are training for, and what "better" would look like for you specifically. Most of the diagnosis comes from here.
- The examinationMovement screening, joint-by-joint testing, strength and load tolerance, and where relevant how you actually run, squat, throw or lift. The point is to find what is driving the problem, not only where it hurts — a painful shoulder often traces back to the mid-back or the way you organise your ribcage.
- What we found, explainedYou get told what is going on in plain language, what the evidence says about it, and how confident we are. If something is uncertain, you will hear that too.
- Treatment on day oneYou are treated at the first visit, not scheduled for treatment later. That may be manual therapy, dry needling, loading work, or focused shockwave therapy depending on what the examination found.
- The plan you leave withA written plan: what to do between now and next time, what to avoid and for how long, what we expect to change first, and roughly how many visits this should take. If we are wrong about that, we will tell you and adjust.
What we will not do
- Hand you off to an aide or a technician. Every minute is with Dr. Suren.
- Put you on a machine for twenty minutes to fill the hour.
- Sell you a package before we know what is wrong.
- Keep treating you if you are not improving. If the plan is not working we change it, and if the problem is not a physical therapy problem we say so and point you to the right clinician.
How many visits will I need?
Honestly, it depends — and anyone who gives you a number before examining you is guessing. What we can do is tell you which factors move it, and give you our estimate at the end of the first visit.
| What shortens it | What lengthens it |
|---|---|
| The problem is recent | It has been there for months or years |
| One clear driver | Several contributing factors, or a previous surgery |
| You can do the between-session work | Your training or job keeps re-loading the tissue |
| Good general strength to build on | Significant strength loss to rebuild first |
| Goal is comfortable daily activity | Goal is a return to competitive sport |
Tendon problems in particular are measured in months rather than weeks, because tendon adapts slowly. That is biology, not a sales tactic — and it is why we tell you at the start rather than at visit eight.
Common questions
Do I need a referral from my doctor?
No. Massachusetts allows you to see a physical therapist directly, and as an out-of-network practice we have no payer requiring one. If you plan to submit a superbill, check whether your insurer requires a referral to reimburse.
Will I be treated on the first visit or just assessed?
Treated. The evaluation and the first treatment happen in the same 60 minutes.
Will it hurt?
Some of the testing will reproduce your symptoms — that is how we identify the problem, and we stop when we have the information. Treatment should not leave you worse. Dry needling and shockwave can be uncomfortable during the application; you will be told what to expect before anything happens and you can stop at any point.
I have an MRI report. Should I bring it?
Yes, bring it. It is useful context. It is also worth knowing that imaging findings are common in people with no symptoms at all, so the report is one input among several rather than the answer on its own.
Can I come in just for a second opinion?
Yes. A single evaluation with a written plan you take elsewhere is a completely reasonable reason to book.
What if I am mid-way through rehab somewhere else?
That is fine and fairly common. Bring what you have been given and we will tell you honestly whether it needs changing.
Book your first visit
Start with a free discovery call if you would rather talk first. It is a short conversation about what is going on and what the right next step is.
Book a Free Discovery Call