Musculoskeletal Assessment

What is it?

Musculoskeletal Assessment gives us a full picture of your symptoms, their causes, and the condition and function of the body’s structures. Your physiotherapist works with you to set specific, achievable rehabilitation goals, then develops a treatment plan combining the right physiotherapy interventions for the best possible results.

What does it involve?

Musculoskeletal Assessment consists of 3 stages

Stage 1 – Interview

We begin with an interview to take your medical history. You describe the problem and your symptoms, including where they occur, what they feel like and how they have developed. We also record your personal and family medical histories. Your physiotherapist considers these subjective findings before moving on to the next stage.

Stage 2 – Physical Examination

The second stage is a Physical Examination. Your physiotherapist observes the whole body for imbalances and palpates the affected area to assess its structures. They examine range and quality of movement, joint behaviour (intra-articular movements), strength through dynamometry, balance, neuromuscular coordination and functional movements. Special clinical tests of the affected area and functional tests of motor performance are important parts of the examination. A neurological assessment is included where needed, and any investigations, such as X-rays or MRI scans, are recorded. Finally, you complete a questionnaire or assessment scale selected by your physiotherapist to clarify the musculoskeletal dysfunction and its effect on your quality of life.

Stage 3 – Combined Evaluation

Your physiotherapist brings the findings together and works with you to set short- and long-term treatment goals. These guide your individual physiotherapy rehabilitation programme and the choice of physiotherapy interventions for each goal.

The comprehensive musculoskeletal assessment is complemented by strength assessment using KINVENT dynamometers and by kinematic assessment / plantar pressure analysis.