Physical therapy is a branch of healthcare that focuses on treating individuals with physical impairments or disabilities through various methods such as exercise, manual therapy, and education. The goal of physical therapy is to improve a person’s mobility, reduce pain, and restore or enhance their overall physical function and quality of life.
Functional movement assessment is a key component of physical therapy practice. It involves evaluating how well a person moves during various activities and tasks relevant to their daily life. This assessment helps the physical therapist identify any movement dysfunctions, imbalances, or limitations that may be contributing to the individual’s pain or functional impairments.
During a functional movement assessment, the physical therapist observes the individual performing a variety of movements, such as squatting, bending, reaching, lifting, walking, and balancing. They may also assess specific functional tasks related to the individual’s particular goals or challenges, such as climbing stairs, getting in and out of a chair, or lifting objects.
Based on the findings of the functional movement assessment, the physical therapist develops a personalized treatment plan to address the individual’s specific needs and goals. This may include targeted exercises, manual therapy techniques, therapeutic modalities, and education on proper body mechanics and movement patterns.
Overall, physical therapy and functional movement assessment work together to help individuals improve their physical function, mobility, and quality of life, whether they are recovering from an injury, managing a chronic condition, or striving to optimize their movement performance.
