Do You Need a Movement Diagnosis?

Medical diagnoses don't need much of an introduction. They're what you get from your doctor when you're sick. Examples would be influenza, diabetes or hypertension. They describe the underlying problem that is causing your symptoms. 

When people feel sick, they know they need to go to the doctor and find out what's going on to get treated. We should treat movement the same way. If you're having pain when you move, can't do things you used to be able to (like get on and off the floor easily), or can't do things you want to do (such as go for a bike ride or pick up a grandchild), you could benefit from a movement diagnosis. 

Physical therapists analyze your agility and coordination, as well as strength, flexibility and alignment, to determine the best treatment plan for your individual goals.

Physical therapists analyze your agility and coordination, as well as strength, flexibility and alignment, to determine the best treatment plan for your individual goals.

A movement diagnosis will help determine what's causing your difficulty with movement. For example, the cause could be muscular weakness, improper alignment, dysfunctional movement patterns or a combination of several factors. Diagnoses set the roadmap for treatment, so getting them right is crucial. Human movement is complex and is influenced by more than just your muscles and joints. According to the APTA, movement is impacted by the following systems:

     - Endocrine
     - Nervous
     - Cardiovascular
     - Pulmonary
     - Integumentary
     - Musculoskeletal

Because of the complexity and interplay between these components of the movement system, getting a movement diagnosis correct is often very difficult. Physical therapists are experts in human movement with doctoral-level training and should be your first stop for movement issues. Not only can a physical therapist provide an accurate movement diagnosis, they will also design a treatment plan to correct the underlying issues and help get you moving well again. Contact the movement experts at CompassPT today. Click here to learn more about your Movement Vital Signs.

References:

http://www.neuropt.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/movement-system-diagnosis-in-neurologic-physical-therapy-where-are-we.pdf?sfvrsn=0

https://journals.lww.com/jnpt/FullText/2018/04000/White_Paper__Movement_System_Diagnoses_in.9.aspx

http://www.apta.org/MovementSystem/

http://www.apta.org/MovementSystem/Template/

Courtesy of American Physical Therapy Association, Private Practice Section, August 1, 2019