Make your assessment practical
Describe the activity you want to return to.
Walking for exercise, a shift at work and returning to sport involve different demands. Bring details of your usual activity, when the injury occurred and any existing advice. Assessment can consider the movements and loads relevant to your goal.
Your activity. Your starting point.
You might be returning to recreational sport, managing a concern after exercise, or finding an everyday task difficult following an injury. Our Elizabeth Park physiotherapy appointments provide time to explain what happened and what you would like to work towards.
We discuss the demands of your activity, any previous injuries and what you are currently able to do. You do not need to be a competitive athlete to seek advice about an injury or movement concern.
Understand the concern first.
An assessment may include relevant movements, strength, balance and tasks related to your sport, work or daily routine. Your physiotherapist explains the examination and discusses the findings with you.
Where symptoms or the injury history suggest a need for further medical assessment, we will discuss the appropriate next step. We plan care around the individual assessment rather than using the same programme for every injury.
Build a practical rehabilitation plan.
Your plan may include:
- Advice about adapting activity while you work towards your goals.
- Individual exercises for relevant movement and strength.
- Balance or activity-specific practice when appropriate.
- Review of how you respond to increasing activity demands.
We discuss what to practise between visits and how to recognise when the plan needs review. Return-to-sport or work decisions depend on the injury, your response and relevant medical advice. A fixed recovery date cannot be promised.
Plan around the demands of your activity.
Tell us how often you usually train or exercise, the movements involved and any work or caring responsibilities that affect your routine. If there is an event you hope to attend, explain the date and what it involves. These details help us discuss goals and review points; they do not establish a guaranteed return date.
Your plan may include individual exercise rehabilitation suited to the assessment. If you are recovering from an operation, our physiotherapy after surgery page explains the importance of bringing your surgical instructions.
Bring the details that matter.
Wear clothing that allows comfortable movement and bring relevant footwear, existing reports, referrals and details of any restrictions from your treating team. If your concern relates to work or sport, tell us about the movements and activities involved.
Consider a specific goal, such as walking a usual route, returning to a training session or managing a work task. If you have a serious recent injury, cannot bear weight or have marked pain or deformity, seek urgent medical assessment rather than waiting for a routine physiotherapy appointment.
Your physiotherapy appointment.
See Jency Donda, physiotherapist, at our Elizabeth Park clinic. For a GP care plan, NDIS, DVA, Support at Home or WorkCover appointment, check the relevant referral and plan information before booking.
Helpful questions.
Do you see everyday injuries as well as sports injuries?
Yes. Our assessment and rehabilitation appointments cover everyday movement and injury concerns as well as activity-related goals. Call if you are unsure which appointment to choose.
Will I be given exercises?
Exercises may form part of your plan when appropriate. Your physiotherapist will discuss the purpose, how to perform them and how they fit your current abilities and goals.
How do I know which activities to continue?
Suitable activity depends on the injury and your assessment. Your physiotherapist can discuss what you are currently doing, how you respond and whether changes are appropriate. Follow any restrictions already given by your treating team until they are reviewed.
More information: healthdirect: sprains, strains and when to seek care.