First off I want to just start by saying that when it comes to an Exercise Physiology initial assessment, they do not all look the same. Each assessment will be completed based on the client’s reason for seeing an Exercise Physiologist (EP). There is, however, a set of ‘guidelines’ or a certain framework that they are run under. In this blog, we will be discussing how we complete our initial assessments. The aim is to give you some idea of what to expect when you arrive for your appointment.
Client Details
Before your scheduled appointment time, you will be sent a “New Client Form”. This should be completed before your appointment. This form will ask for your best contact details. It will also ask for your health history such as past injuries or health concerns. By completing this form, we are able to determine your suitability for an assessment. If you are unsafe, we may need to get GP clearance.
Subjective Information
Once you arrive in the clinic and meet your EP, you will sit down and start your appointment. During the first part of your assessment, your EP will ask you a bunch of questions. These questions will be different depending on why you are there. Generally, though, the questions will be based around your injury or condition. Take chronic low back pain, for example. Some questions you might get are “How long have you had it”, “What makes it worse/better?”, “How did the pain start?”, “Can you describe the pain for me?”.
These questions are uses to get a sense of how you feel about your injury/condition and what you know about it. It also gives the EP a chance to start working out what other assessments her may need to do to help treat you.
Movement Strength and Fitness Assessments
The second half of the assessment will require you to complete some sort of movement or exercise. An EP will start by completing some Range Of Motion (ROM) testing, to see how far your joints can move in different directions. ROM tests are used to find any deficiencies in your movement as this might be causing you pain.
After the ROM testing is complete, we will ask you to complete some movement exercises. Some examples of these are step-ups, squats, single-leg squats, balance etc. The premise of these movement assessments is to see how your body moves with certain tasks that it will generally perform in day to day activities.
Finally, you may be asked to complete a fitness assessment. Our go-to for the older population and injured people is the 6-minute walk test, which as the name suggests, is designed to see how far you can walk in 6 minutes. Other tests may include a 2km time trial on the spin bike.
During your exercise physiology assessment, our EP’s will be asking questions about your pain and exertion. This to get a baseline level of how your body reacts to the assessment.
Discussing the findings
The final part of your exercise physiology assessment is talking to you about what we found in all the tests and laying out a plan for what we think needs to be done to help you manage your pain or condition. We will ask for as much input from you as possible in regards to the best way to undertake the plan, because, at the end of the day, the best plan is one that you are able to stick to.
To book your Exercise Physiology assessment with us, you can send us a message via Facebook or visit our Website www.tuckerstrengthperformance.com.au/contact-us or click on www.halaxy.com/book/exercise-physiologist/mr-bennett-tucker/317127/356834