Diagnostics
Functional and movement assessment: what you can manage in everyday life
An X-ray shows structures. It does not automatically show why you adjust your movement when getting up from a chair, why your shoulder hurts only during a particular movement or when your knee feels unsteady as you walk. This is where functional and movement assessment comes in.
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Understanding
A closer look
At OrthoCoast in Wolgast, we observe and assess movements relevant to your concern. There is no fixed series of tests that everyone follows. The key questions are: which function is limited, what changes it, and what does this mean for the next step in your treatment?
From a diagnosis to what you can do
Two people with the same diagnosis may be affected very differently in everyday life. One may cycle without pain but find stairs very difficult. Another may no longer be able to reach a shelf, yet move their arm comfortably in another direction. These differences help us understand a medical problem more precisely and agree on a personal treatment goal.
Functional assessment complements your medical history and clinical examination. It can show whether mobility, strength, coordination, balance, tolerance of activity or movement control play a part in the task in question. It does not establish a diagnosis on the basis of a single test and does not replace necessary imaging or neurological assessment.
Movements we may assess
Depending on the area of the body and the question being addressed, we assess active and passive movement, posture, walking or an everyday task. Examples include standing up, a stair-climbing movement, standing on one leg, gripping, lifting or a specific joint movement. Strength and differences between sides may also be considered, as may your response to repeated activity. The tests are selected according to your symptoms.
The assessment may consist of doctor-guided observation and functional tests. If an additional measurement method would help answer your question, we arrange it at our practice or a suitable external facility. We explain which additional question the examination is intended to answer.
Further information
Turning observations into useful findings
An unusual movement pattern is not automatically the cause of symptoms. Pain can temporarily alter movement; uncertainty, protective movement or previous injuries may also play a part. We therefore compare the pattern observed with your history, clinical findings and any existing images.
It also matters what happens when something is changed. Does a movement become more controlled when its speed, starting position or load is adjusted? Can the limitation be reproduced? These observations can help determine the focus of non-surgical treatment. However, they cannot predict in general terms which training will work for every person.
For questions about muscles, we can combine functional testing with a BIA assessment using the seca mBCA. BIA adds information about muscle quantity, while strength measurements and tasks such as repeatedly standing up from a chair show what you can do in practice. Pain, joint problems and safe performance are taken into account. A BIA value alone does not explain a limitation; combining different measurements gives a clearer picture of your current situation.
Making goals and progress visible
Our functional assessment can document your starting point. Instead of simply asking whether things are “better” or “worse”, we can agree on a specific goal: getting up safely from the floor again, walking a particular distance, putting on a jacket or carrying out a task at work. At a later review, we can check whether that particular function has changed.
Not every follow-up assessment needs to include the same tests. If your symptoms, diagnosis or goal change, the examination is adapted too. Improvement in one test does not automatically mean that all everyday activities should be free of symptoms. What matters is interpreting the results together.
What to expect and next steps
Preparation and procedure
If possible, wear clothes that allow you to move comfortably. Bring any aids, braces or shoes that are relevant in everyday life. If a particular activity causes your problem, describe it as specifically as you can or bring relevant information about it, where safe and practical. You do not need to repeatedly provoke painful movements before your appointment.
Before each test, we explain what we are assessing. Please tell us if you experience pain or dizziness, or feel unsure. We stop or adapt an examination if it cannot be performed safely or provide meaningful information. The duration and scope depend on the medical question being addressed.
Our doctors in this specialty
Priv. Doz. Dr. med. habil.Richard Kasch
Specialist in orthopaedics and trauma surgery
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Dr. med.Christoph Jährling
Specialist in orthopaedics and trauma surgery
DVO-certified osteologist
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Björn Weidemann
Specialist in orthopaedics and trauma surgery
DVO-certified osteologist
View profileThese doctors consider your symptoms, mobility and everyday life together. Your observations help us discuss the next steps with you.
Clinicians, results and the next step
Your contacts for orthopaedic functional and movement assessment are Priv. Doz. Dr. med. habil. Richard Kasch, Dr. med. Christoph Jährling and Björn Weidemann. We allocate appointments according to your needs and availability. After the examination, we discuss which observations are relevant to your symptoms and whether they point towards treatment, exercise, further investigation or a follow-up assessment.
To get started, use “Appointments & enquiries”. Functional and movement assessment does not automatically mean that patients with German statutory health insurance have to pay themselves. If your insurer does not cover an additional diagnostic component and you would like to use it, we clarify this with you in advance. You receive a cost estimate and decide after we have explained the scope and expected costs. The self-funded service is only provided once you have signed to confirm in writing that you wish to have it and agree to pay for it.
Frequently asked questions
Is functional assessment the same as a clinical examination?
They overlap. A clinical examination assesses the overall pattern of symptoms; functional and movement assessment takes a closer look at how a particular movement or everyday task is performed.
Do I need sports clothing?
Comfortable clothes that allow easy movement are usually helpful. Whether particular clothing is needed depends on the area of the body and the planned examination.
Is specialist equipment used?
We choose the examination to suit your question. Observing a movement and performing targeted functional tests are often helpful. If an additional measurement method would be useful, we explain what it can clarify and where it will be carried out.
Can the assessment show which exercise is safe?
It can provide important pointers when choosing exercise and deciding how much to do. However, a single assessment cannot predict every response; exercise is therefore adapted and progress reassessed as needed.
Your next step
