A visit for a client with limited mobility: plan before arrival

Accessibility cannot be inferred from a diagnosis and is never identical for everyone. The administrator should gather functional needs, verify the specific clinic and pass an agreed plan to the practitioner without unnecessary medical detail.

Check the entire route, not just the entrance

The team measures steps, gradients, doorways, lifts, turning space, accessible toilets and the route to the treatment room. Check the treatment couch's height, adjustability and load capacity separately. Update these data after any rearrangement or repair. “We have a wide entrance” does not establish that the entire route can be navigated safely.

The client receives practical facts: where to park, who will meet them, which doors require manual opening and whether there is enough space for their mobility device. If a barrier cannot be removed, this must be explained before payment; another studio or an assessment can be offered without promising that treatment will be possible. Staff must not be expected to lift a person or wheelchair manually.

Discuss assistance in terms of specific actions

Instead of asking, “What’s wrong with you?”, ask: “Which position can you maintain? Do you need help with the door, clothing or transferring between seats? What is the best way to assist you?” The client is the primary source of information about how they usually move and transfer. Never touch a mobility device without permission.

If a lift, specialised support or trained assistant is required, availability must be confirmed in advance. A companion is not a substitute for equipment and does not automatically have authority to make decisions for the client. Their role is discussed alongside privacy, draping and laser-room safety rules.

• Confirm the route, dimensions, lift, bathroom and couch specifications.
• Agree on the method of movement, support and assistance in the client’s words.
• Allow additional time without reducing screening and safety checks.
• Pass the functional plan and open questions to the practitioner before the visit.

Plan safe access to the treatment area

The practitioner describes in advance the positions needed for clear visibility and stable technique. The client explains which positions are possible and for how long. The plan can be divided into smaller segments, reordered or reduced in scope. If no safe position is available, that area is not treated. Never hold a limb in place by force or ask the client to tolerate increasing pain.

Cables, pedal and furniture are placed outside the travel path. Personal belongings and the call signal remain accessible. Before each touch, movement of support or fabric, the practitioner explains the action. After changing positions, eye protection, boundaries and consent are re-checked.

Leave a useful record for the next visit

The record documents the available position, supports used, method of assistance, stop signal, time required and areas not treated. The diagnosis is recorded only if it is needed for screening and communicated as part of the procedure. Evaluative words about the body and independence are not needed.

After the visit, the team separately reviews the barriers of the room. If the aisle is blocked by supplies or the adjustable couch is unavailable, this is an operational problem, not a “client difficulty.” The correction is added to the opening checklist and studio description.