POSTURAL ASSESSMENT

Before beginning any individually-tailored training program one should get his posture assessed. The alignment of the body, the positions of body parts, symmetry, contour, and tone of muscles can tell a coach a lot about the way the body was used. The posture assessment may not be able to specifically identify if a problem is structural or a result of poor muscular recruitment patterns with resultant muscle imbalances. Thus, posture assessment may be considered as a screening test that gives a trainer initial impression about the state of 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, etc.

For example, if you have head tilted to one side, one shoulder elevated, your spine deviates to the side, or rounds in thoracic area, your leg seems longer than the other one, etc., you need a posture assessment.

MOVEMENT ASSESSMENT

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

For example, if your low back arches or rounds, or your knees go inward while you squat, or your shoulder girdles elevate while you do rowing, you need 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 which components of fitness need to be improved. Based on those results, a coach creates your training program - chooses exercises, defines the load and all other parameters of exercise program design.

PAIN ASSESSMENT

Coaches generally do not do assessments that are supposed to diagnose any injury or disease. But, coaches may do assessments that will tell them what postures, moves or loads are causing you to feel pain, and based on those results advise you what poses, movements, motions, exercises, loads, or daily activities to avoid in order not to exacerbate pain and give the body opportunity to heal.

BREATHING ASSESSMENT

“Breathing is essential to keep us alive, but breathing well is essential 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 physical examination. Respiratory mechanics play a key role in posture and spinal stabilization, neck problems, numerous stress-related conditions (including high blood pressure), as well as allergies and other medical conditions.

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