ASSESSMENT

It is indispensable to make a functional assessment before generating an exercise prescription in order to adapt it to what each patient and injury needs. When the physiotherapist refers the patient to the readaptation service, they both conduct a planning to decide the type of assessment that will be carried out according to the patient’s injury report and their current state.

The aim of the assessment is to expose the possible deficits the patient may have and can affect in his or her current injury or in a future injury. The aspects considered are the following:

• Strength. It is assessed by a digital dynamometer in Newton units. It compares the specific strength of each muscle with the contralateral and normative values.
• Mobility. It is assessed by a digital goniometer in grades. It compares the range of movement of each joint or articulation.
• Stability and balance. It is assessed by functional tests. It exposes the stability and balance deficits on basic movement.
• Power. It is assessed by an encoder inserted on an isoinertial pulley in Watts. It is used in the sport readaptation and in tendinopathy treatments.
  The trainer analyzes the results and generates a report in which the negative findings of the assessment are explained. This report is the best starting point before prescribing exercises to fulfil the patient’s needs and to see the changes the exercise is making in future assessments.