What is included in a Physiotherapy Assessment?

If you have just recently sustained an injury, are having mobility problems or are experiencing some puzzling pains and strains, a physiotherapy session could be in order. At any good physiotherapy clinic, this meticulous and frequently holistic process will seek to ascertain the physical basis for your symptoms so as to determine a therapy plan to bring you back to wellness.

The physiotherapy assessment should begin with your medical record. This is standard process for any sort of health related problem. It is wise to be thorough in explaining past issues and conditions that appear to run in the family. This could have a bearing on your treatment. It could even point to some illness or disorder that nobody suspected that you had. Because of this, be certain to fill in this history questionnaire with care and precision

Then, the specialist will ask questions about your present condition. This includes queries about where does it hurt to details on any other pains, stiffness or pain you are experiencing. He/she will definitely wish to know when your symptoms started and the frequency you experience them, also. It’s common to be asked to judge the seriousness of your pain on a scale of one to ten. One means no pain and ten means the worst pain you can imagine. This is a validated scale that provides information completely unique to your condition and may be employed as a measure to determine quantitatively if your discomfort is getting better or worse.

To a huge degree, the success of your physiotherapy assessment depends on how fairly and honestly you answer to these questions. For example, replying that your discomfort is at a level of four when you know it is more like a level of 8 will result in less assertive treatment. As you can imagine, it is improbable you’ll experience much healing when this lower level of therapy is applied. On the other hand, an exaggeration of your discomfort severity may cause treatment that’s too assertive and worsens your condition.

After this informational process, usually called an “intake”, the physiotherapist will begin the physical part of the assessment. He/she will examine how you move and test your range of movement. For some, this may be a bit embarrassing especially if you’re experiencing constricted movement. No-one wants to be seen to move awkwardly or not be ready to turn their head or lift their leg normally. Our inclination is to put on a brave face and do our best. For example, a person with a sore and stiff neck may try to move it naturally so as not to look like an invalid.

You will be put thru a series of movements that may seem unusual and might at times be uncomfortable. It’s a good idea to try to perform these movements to the best of your capability. If you can hardly do them, that tells your physiotherapist a great deal of info.

Most significantly, your assessment should conclude with some preliminary observations on your condition and how it could be best handled.

You will know if you’ve an wonderful physiotherapist if they also give you:

– A clear and comprehensible initial diagnosis of your present condition and recommendations for the best techniques for treating it
– A timeline for your treatment and recovery, with a recommended frequency of appointments
– Helpful resources and exercises you can easily employ at home to speed up your recovery
– Care and consideration “and an interest in following up with you and your family physician.

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