Assessment of human movement in clinical practice

Loss of motion is a frequent finding in those suffering from pain. In fact, one of the most common findings during pain is altered movement strategies. Most people will experience this at some point with one example being limping after distorting and ankle or reducing the range of motion when during the head after waking up with neck pain. This strategy is a way of protecting against further pain caused by movement.

It is usually at this point, when people can no longer move the way they used to, that they consult a healthcare professional. As part of a consultation, the clinician will usually assess the available movement and its quality by observing the patient move the body part of interest into specific directions.