If you’re dealing with pain, recovering from an injury, or striving to improve athletic performance, a movement assessment can be the key to unlocking faster, safer, and more effective results. At Control Physical Therapy, movement assessments are a cornerstone of our evidence-based care, helping patients in Cave Creek, AZ, and across the Greater Phoenix area move better, feel stronger, and stay injury-free.
Whether you’re an active adult, athlete, senior, or recovering from surgery, advanced movement assessments—especially those using force plate technology—provide the insights needed for truly personalized and high-performance physical therapy.
What Is a Movement Assessment in Physical Therapy?
A movement assessment is a comprehensive evaluation of how your body moves during everyday and athletic activities. Instead of focusing only on where pain occurs, physical therapists identify why it’s happening by analyzing mobility, strength, balance, coordination, and biomechanics.
At Control Physical Therapy, our assessments combine clinical expertise with advanced biomechanical movement testing and force plate analysis to uncover hidden imbalances and inefficiencies that contribute to pain and injury.
Why Movement Assessments Matter
Pain is often just a symptom of an underlying movement dysfunction. Without identifying the root cause, treatments may only provide temporary relief. Movement assessments allow for precise, data-driven care that leads to lasting results.
Key Benefits of Movement Assessments
1. Identifies the Root Cause of Pain
Movement assessments reveal biomechanical issues such as muscle imbalances, joint restrictions, poor posture, and faulty movement patterns—common contributors to back, neck, hip, knee, and shoulder pain.
2. Creates a Truly Personalized Treatment Plan
No two bodies move the same. Assessment findings guide a customized physical therapy plan tailored to your goals, lifestyle, and activity level for optimal recovery and performance.
3. Prevents Future Injuries
By identifying asymmetries, instability, and movement inefficiencies early, movement assessments help correct problems before they lead to injury—ideal for athletes, active adults, and physically demanding professions.
4. Enhances Athletic Performance
Optimized movement leads to better strength, speed, agility, and power. Athletes and fitness enthusiasts benefit from improved biomechanics and measurable performance gains.
5. Supports Safe Post-Surgical Recovery
Movement assessments ensure proper healing and progression after procedures such as ACL reconstruction, rotator cuff repair, spinal surgery, and joint replacement, reducing the risk of setbacks and re-injury.
6. Improves Balance and Reduces Fall Risk
Advanced balance and stability testing—especially with force plates—helps seniors enhance coordination and confidence while significantly reducing fall risk.
7. Tracks Progress with Objective Data
Force plate technology provides precise, measurable insights into strength, balance, symmetry, and power, allowing patients and therapists to clearly track improvements and refine treatment plans.
8. Speeds Up Recovery
By targeting the exact source of dysfunction, movement assessments streamline treatment, helping patients recover faster and return to work, sports, and daily life sooner.
Advanced Movement Assessments at Control Physical Therapy
Control Physical Therapy stands out in Cave Creek and the Greater Phoenix area with cutting-edge biomechanical movement testing and force plate technology, typically found only in elite sports and research environments.
What We Evaluate:
- Posture and spinal alignment
- Joint mobility and flexibility
- Muscle strength and coordination
- Balance and stability
- Gait and walking mechanics
- Running, jumping, and landing mechanics
- Weight distribution and asymmetries
- Power output and force development
This data-driven approach ensures precision in both rehabilitation and performance enhancement.
Who Benefits from Movement Assessments?
Active Adults
Relieve pain caused by prolonged sitting, repetitive tasks, and daily wear and tear while improving mobility and function.
Athletes
Optimize performance, prevent injuries, and safely return to sport with objective, sport-specific movement analysis.
Seniors
Enhance balance, mobility, and independence with targeted balance therapy, often covered by Medicare for qualifying plans.
Post-Surgical Patients
Accelerate recovery and ensure safe progression after procedures such as ACL reconstruction, rotator cuff repair, and total joint replacement with expert post-surgical physical therapy.
Workers and Professionals
Reduce strain from desk work, driving, and physically demanding jobs while improving posture and movement efficiency.
Our Movement Assessment Process
1. Quick and Easy Scheduling
Call us to schedule your free estimate. Our team verifies your insurance and answers all your questions.
2. Comprehensive Evaluation
We perform an in-depth movement and biomechanical analysis, often incorporating advanced force plate testing for objective data.
3. Personalized Plan of Care
Your customized program may include orthopedic rehab, sports rehabilitation, balance therapy, dry needling, cupping therapy, and blood flow restriction therapy.
4. One-on-One Expert Treatment
You’ll receive individualized care from a Doctor of Physical Therapy, combining hands-on treatment with targeted exercise.
5. Progress Tracking and Optimization
Ongoing reassessments and force plate data ensure measurable improvement and optimal readiness for daily activities and sports.
6. Long-Term Performance and Prevention
We provide a structured home and performance program to maintain results and prevent future injuries.
Why Choose Control Physical Therapy in Cave Creek, AZ?
Founded by Dr. Gregory McLarty, DPT, Control Physical Therapy delivers expert, patient-focused care with advanced technology and proven outcomes.
What Sets Us Apart:
- One-on-one sessions with a Doctor of Physical Therapy
- Advanced biomechanical and force plate testing
- Expertise in orthopedic rehab and sports rehabilitation
- Specialized treatments including dry needling, cupping, and BFR therapy
- Balance and concussion therapy expertise
- Established in 2018 with outstanding 5-star reviews
- Locally owned and operated
- Insurance verification and Medicare acceptance for qualifying plans
- Serving Cave Creek, Tempe, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Glendale, Fountain Hills, Paradise Valley, and nearby communities
Movement Assessments for the Active Cave Creek Lifestyle
From hiking Spur Cross Ranch and biking desert trails to golfing, pickleball, CrossFit, and equestrian activities, Cave Creek residents live actively. Movement assessments ensure your body performs efficiently and safely, helping you stay pain-free and at your best in the Arizona desert environment.
FAQs: Movement Assessments in Physical Therapy
What is force plate testing in physical therapy?
Force plates measure how your body produces and distributes force during movement, providing precise data on balance, strength, symmetry, and power for accurate diagnosis and progress tracking.
Do I need to be injured to benefit from a movement assessment?
No. Movement assessments are ideal for both injury recovery and prevention, as well as performance enhancement.
How long does a movement assessment take?
Most assessments take between 45 and 60 minutes and are followed by a detailed explanation and personalized treatment plan.
Are movement assessments covered by insurance?
When deemed medically necessary as part of physical therapy, movement assessments are typically covered by insurance, including Medicare for qualifying plans. We verify your benefits in advance.
Where can I find biomechanical and force plate testing near Cave Creek, AZ?
Control Physical Therapy offers advanced movement assessments with force plate technology, serving Cave Creek and the Greater Phoenix area, including Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Glendale, Fountain Hills, and Paradise Valley.
Move Better, Feel Better, Perform Better
If you’re searching for the best physical therapist in Cave Creek or looking to optimize your recovery and performance, movement assessments at Control Physical Therapy provide the precision and results you need to reach your goals.
Call today at (480) 474-4921 to schedule your free estimate!