The Assessment can be described as a Full Service for the musculoskeletal system. It is a snapshot of your body far beyond a basic gym fitness test or running shop treadmill assessment. It is specifically aimed at the athlete but can be adapted to any sport or occupation. We are looking for areas of potential injury - short or long term, as well as areas in which performance can be enhanced with some specific remedial work.   This will be discussed in detail and a plan formulated. The work will mostly be in the form of exercise or possibly combined with a treatment programme. To get the most from this procedure it is strongly advised that follow-up visits are organised to check on progress and to adapt the program. The assessment itself will not benefit you--it is the work that is done as a result of it.

The history of this process dates back to the mid '90s. Mark Buckingham was involved in the evolution of the Screening Program for UK Athletics and Phil Pask and Mark also developed the same program for England RFU in the build up to the 1999 World Cup.

The two hour assessment will start with a Musculoskeletal Screening which systematically works through the spinal and limb systems looking for areas of tightness, weakness, hyper and hypo-mobility. Muscle Imbalance, neural tightness and basic control of the joints will be examined. We then move to a progressive Motion Control Assessment from basic standing and walking through to a full Video Gait Analysis and sport specific movement profiling. An Isokinetic Test will be performed on one area of concern to give exceptionally detailed information on that problem.

Following the Assessment your physiotherapist will take you through the findings and discuss a plan of action. The plan of action could take the form of further physiotherapy sessions to work on problems and exercise work to be done by you or under supervision. It may also be decided that further investigations and opinions need to be sought.

The physiotherapy plan of action will be set out in stages with clear entry and exit criteria set for those stages. The first stage will be set in motion on the assessment day and arrangements made to follow-up when appropriate.

Faq's

What to wear--shorts, t-shirt, trainers

Time--2 hours--please be on time

Will it hurt? - No, only as much as gentle exercise

Pictures required

Assessment pic, Gait analysis pics