At physical therapyworks an evaluation is unique to each client, and its contents are dependent upon each client's goals and problems. This makes every evaluation unique, however the one thing that every evaluation we perform has in common is that they are analytical, accurate, and comprehensive.
It is often the case that someone achieves symptomatic relief status post a course of some type of treatment, only to have the symptoms return at a later date. Often, this is the result of an inaccurate or narrow focus of treatment, and contributing factors such as the surrounding joints, ligaments, muscles, tendons, nerves, as well as lifestyle were not properly evaluated and therefore were not treated properly or at all. Likewise, evaluations can be too vague, resulting in treatment programs that are also too vague and therefore not successful. Important details that are actually the underlying causes or 'root causes' of more obvious signs and symptoms are often missed, which may result in treatment that is successful in the short term, at best.
As you can see, an evaluation must be analytical, accurate, and comprehensive. This should be commonplace but it is not, because this type of evaluation takes time and skill, two qualities that are becoming more and more scarce in health care today.
Here are a few of the things that we look at during our evaluations.
Interview
We will take a medical history; discuss the nature of the client's problems, including the area, intensity, and quality of symptoms and/or impaired function; determine what aggravates or decreases the symptoms or problem; inquire what are the client's typical postures, positions, and activities. We will also ask what treatment the client has had in the past and with what degree of success, and we will discuss the results of any special tests, including MRI's, CT scans, x-rays, etc.
Objective Examination
Objective Examinations typically include analysis of the following:
- Posture
- Skeletal Alignment
- Joint mobility
- Movement Analysis
- Strength
- Flexibility
- Neurodynamics
- Tissue Palpation
- Reflex and Sensation Testing.
- Special Tests - unique to each client.
The findings from an evaluation typically present themselves in an cohesive pattern. Based on the results of the evaluation, we will develop a treatment program. We provide a list of treatments from which most treatment programs are developed.