Episode 67 - What constitutes an appropriate physiotherapy assessment?

Speakers: Sean FitzGerald and Leanne Loranger

On January 1, 2025, updated standards of practice for Alberta physiotherapists take effect. The updated Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment Standard of Practice includes the requirement to engage in appropriate assessment, which includes taking a history and completing a physical examination relevant to the client’s presenting symptoms.

A physiotherapy assessment is an iterative process. What constitutes an appropriate assessment is determined by the client’s presentation; their concerns, problems, and goals; and the findings of the assessment as it progresses. The purpose of assessment is to determine what the client needs and what services the physiotherapist can offer to address those needs. Appropriate assessment is not determined by the programs or service types a physiotherapist offers, nor is it determined by the mechanism by which the physiotherapist starts the assessment process, whether that’s in-person or virtual.

Listen to this episode to understand how the expectations for appropriate assessment apply to physiotherapy services delivered using virtual platforms or via a group program, and why the College included specific wording about taking a history and completing a physical examination in the revised standard of practice.

Resources:

•               Standards of Practice for Alberta Physiotherapists (2025).

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