Should I Do A Physiotherapy Assessment?

If you have injured yourself or are in need of treatment for a persistent physical ailment such as a stiff neck, back pain, muscle tension or myriad other potential problems, physiotherapy is an excellent treatment option. Your first physio appointment is what’s often referred to as an assessment. But just what is a physiotherapy assessment, and what can you expect from your visit? 

When you go to physiotherapy, you’re signing up to treat either a persistent issue or recent injury. But like treating a broken limb, you can’t just dive into repairing the damage. It’s important to assess the situation first in order to figure out how best to approach treatment. When going to your physio assessment, make sure you’re wearing loose-fitting, athletic clothing that allows you to expose the affected area and also wear comfortable sneakers or footwear you would use while exercising. 

It’s important for us to try to determine the most accurate cause of the problem that’s brought you into our clinic. We will use reports provided by your physician and any medical imaging that may be available, but it’s vital that we also assess the situation in person. 

First thing after you arrive, we’ll have you fill in a form that outlines your medical history and any associated conditions that may be connected to the reason for your visit. We’ll then ask you some questions about the problem at hand in order to figure out all the possible causes. 

After this, we’ll perform an objective evaluation that will involve tests and assessments of your walking, posture, strength, mobility, and other physical factors. During these assessments, we’ll be carefully evaluating the integrity of any tissue or muscle affected by the exercises. We will conclude by explaining what we’ve learned about your condition or injury, which includes identifying the affected areas, outlining a treatment plan, and carefully detailing any exercises you’ll have to do at home in between physio appointments. Depending on the time that’s available at the end of your assessment, we will always begin with some treatment on your first visit.  This may include manual therapy techniques, exercises and education, all of which will be focused on the most efficient way to help you reach your mobility goals. 

Our goal with a physiotherapy assessment is to ensure we’re moving forward with your treatment plan with the most detailed and accurate information available related to your specific needs. For the most part, they’re a mandatory step in the physiotherapy process. If you have any additional questions on what to expect at your assessment or whether your condition could benefit from physiotherapy, please reach out to our experienced team and we would be happy to discuss this with you.

Midtown Physiotherapy is a Toronto physiotherapy clinic offering client-centered and evidence-based treatment to help you get back to what you love. We offer appointments at our Yonge and St. Clair location, as well as home services for those unable to come to us. Click here to book online!