POSTURAL ASSESSMENT

Before beginning any individually-tailored training program, the client should have their posture assessed. The alignment of the body, the positions of the body parts, and the muscles' symmetry, contour, and tone can tell a coach a lot about how the body has been used. However, a postural assessment may not be able to precisely identify if a problem is structural or the result of poor muscular recruitment patterns with resultant muscle imbalances. Thus, a posture assessment may be considered a screening test that gives a coach an initial impression about the state of the client's neuromusculoskeletal system and cues for subsequent tests, such as muscle length or strength testing, evaluation of particular movement patterns, the need for orthopedic or neurological assessment, and so on.

For example, if your head is tilted to one side, one shoulder is elevated, your spine deviates to the side, if it curves in the thoracic area, or if one of your legs seems longer than the other, you should have a posture assessment.

MOVEMENT ASSESSMENT

After static postural assessment, dynamic postural assessment and movement assessment should be performed. These include evaluating posture while performing movements in one place (squats, push-ups, etc.) or while moving (walking, jumping, etc.) and assessing different motor patterns. Movement assessment gives a coach insight into the integrated functioning of the muscular, skeletal, and nervous system; it may reveal the movement of altered joint surfaces, muscle imbalances (altered length or activation of specific muscles), inappropriate coordination between muscle groups, inadequate motor patterns, etc. Movement assessment may include simple single-joint movements but also involve complex functional tasks that reveal how different parts of the body function in a kinetic chain.

For example, if your lower back arches or curves, your knees go inward while you squat, or your shoulder girdles elevate while you do rowing, you need a movement assessment.

FITNESS/ATHLETIC ABILITIES TESTING

Testing physical abilities, such as strength, power, speed, agility, endurance, flexibility, balance, etc., enables the coach to identify your training status, as well as to know which components of fitness need to be improved. Based on these results, a coach will create your training program, choosing exercises, and defining the load, and all the other parameters of the exercise program.

PAIN ASSESSMENT

Coaches generally do not do assessments that are supposed to diagnose any injury or disease. But they may assess to ascertain which postures, moves, or loads are causing you to feel pain. Based on the results, they may advise you which poses, movements, motions, exercises, loads, or daily activities to avoid not to exacerbate pain and allow the body to heal. A coach may also be able to recognize whether you need to visit a medical specialist and refer you to one.

BREATHING ASSESSMENT

Breathing is essential to keep us alive, but breathing well is critical to good movement! If breathing is not normalized, no other movement pattern can be. Dysfunctional breathing affects overall health and musculoskeletal system performance, and thus the evaluation of respiratory mechanics should be part of a physical examination. Respiratory mechanics play a crucial role in posture and spinal stabilization, neck problems, numerous stress-related conditions (including high blood pressure), allergies, and other medical conditions.

If you breathe through your mouth, if your upper chest and shoulder girdle are moving up while you breathe, if you often sigh, can’t inhale enough air, or if you breathe too fast, you need a breathing assessment.