Whether you compete on a field, train in a gym, or stay active on Tempe’s trails and courts, your body is constantly under demand. Athletes push hard — and that effort is admirable. However, without understanding how your body moves, you may be setting yourself up for injury without even knowing it.
That is where athlete movement screening comes in. A movement assessment is a structured evaluation that examines how your body performs fundamental patterns like squatting, hinging, rotating, and balancing. It gives a trained physical therapist a clear picture of your strengths, limitations, and hidden vulnerabilities.
At Control Physical Therapy in Tempe, Arizona, we use movement assessments as a powerful tool to help athletes of all levels perform better and stay healthier. Therefore, if you have ever wondered why top athletes invest in this kind of care, read on.
What Is an Athlete Movement Screening?
An athlete movement screening is a systematic process. A licensed physical therapist guides you through a series of functional movements. They observe your patterns, symmetry, and control throughout each motion.
Additionally, our clinic uses biomechanic movement tests and force plates to gather objective data. These tools measure how your body distributes force, shifts weight, and stabilizes during activity. As a result, we get a much more precise picture than observation alone can provide.
Movement screenings are not just for elite athletes, either. Weekend warriors, recreational cyclists, CrossFit enthusiasts, and even martial artists from our Arizona Combat Sports community can all benefit. Moreover, athletes recovering from a previous injury gain especially valuable insights.
What Does a Movement Assessment Look For?
A thorough assessment examines several key areas. First, your therapist will look at your mobility — how far your joints move through their full range. Next, they will assess your stability — how well your muscles control those joints under load.
They also evaluate movement asymmetries. For example, if one hip moves differently than the other, that imbalance can quietly create stress on your knees, lower back, or ankles. Finally, your therapist notes compensations — places where your body has learned to “cheat” a movement pattern to avoid discomfort.
Why Athlete Movement Screening Matters in Tempe, AZ
Tempe is an active community. From cycling along the Tempe Town Lake loop to training at local gyms and competing in recreational leagues, athletes here stay busy year-round. However, the Arizona desert climate adds a unique challenge — hot summers push athletes to train harder indoors or early in the morning, often without proper warm-up time.
Because of this, overuse injuries and movement compensations are especially common in the greater Phoenix area. Athletes in Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, and Scottsdale often push through discomfort rather than addressing the root cause. That approach, unfortunately, leads to longer recovery times down the road.
A movement screening helps catch problems early. Therefore, it is one of the smartest investments an active person in the Valley can make.
Athletes Who Benefit Most From Movement Assessments
Movement screenings are valuable across many athletic populations. Here are some examples of who benefits most:
- Team sport athletes — football, soccer, basketball, and baseball players with repetitive movement demands
- Combat sport athletes — Brazilian jiu-jitsu and MMA competitors who require explosive rotational power and joint stability
- Runners and cyclists — athletes with high-volume, repetitive loading patterns
- Weightlifters and CrossFit athletes — individuals performing complex, high-load movements
- Post-surgical athletes — those returning to sport after procedures like ACL reconstruction or shoulder repair
- Youth athletes — young competitors whose movement habits are still forming
Furthermore, athletes who have experienced recurring injuries often have an underlying movement issue that has never been properly addressed. A screening identifies exactly that.
How Movement Assessments Prevent Injuries
Injury prevention is the most powerful benefit of a movement assessment. Most sports injuries do not happen randomly. Instead, they develop over time through repeated stress on areas that are not moving or stabilizing correctly.
For example, a runner with limited hip mobility may compensate by over-rotating their lower back on every stride. Over hundreds of miles, that small dysfunction accumulates into a significant back or knee injury. A movement screening would catch that hip restriction long before the injury occurs.
At Control Physical Therapy, we take a proactive approach to your health. Moreover, our Tempe team pairs screening findings with hands-on care — including dry needling, cupping, and instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) — to correct dysfunctions at the source.
From Assessment to Action: Building Your Plan
A movement assessment is only the starting point. After identifying your patterns, your physical therapist creates a personalized plan to address what was found. This plan may include targeted mobility work, strength exercises, neuromuscular re-training, and sport-specific drills.
Additionally, if you are preparing for or recovering from surgery, movement assessment findings help guide your pre- and post-surgical rehabilitation program. As a result, you return to sport stronger and with better mechanics than before your injury.
Ready to get started? Call us at (480) 474-4921 to schedule your movement assessment at our Tempe clinic today.
Movement Screening and Sports Performance
Beyond injury prevention, movement assessments unlock athletic performance gains. When your body moves efficiently, you generate more power, speed, and endurance with less effort. On the other hand, movement compensations “leak” energy and slow you down.
Our sports performance and rehabilitation program at Control Physical Therapy uses assessment data to build strength and power in the right places. Furthermore, our blood flow restriction therapy (BFR) program allows athletes to build muscle and strength with lower training loads — an excellent option for those rehabbing an injury or managing joint sensitivity.
Athletes in Gilbert, Scottsdale, and across the greater Phoenix area travel to our Tempe clinic specifically for this integrated approach. We combine objective screening tools with expert hands-on care to deliver results that matter on and off the field.
Force Plates: Taking Assessment to the Next Level
Not all clinics offer force plate technology. At Control Physical Therapy, our biomechanic movement tests and force plates give us precise data about how you load each leg, how quickly you can generate force, and where imbalances exist.
This data is especially valuable for return-to-sport decisions. For example, after an ACL reconstruction, force plate testing helps confirm that your injured leg has truly caught up to your healthy leg — not just in strength, but in real-world movement function. Because of this, we make return-to-sport decisions with confidence, not guesswork.
What to Expect During Your Visit at Control Physical Therapy
Our Tempe clinic is located upstairs at Arizona Combat Sports, at 1425 W. 14th Street, Suite, Tempe, AZ 85281. The environment is energetic, supportive, and built for athletes. From the moment you walk in, our team makes you feel comfortable and motivated.
Your movement assessment session begins with a conversation about your goals, history, and current concerns. Then, your physical therapist guides you through the functional movement tests. Throughout the session, they explain what they are observing and why it matters.
Additionally, you leave the appointment with a clear understanding of your movement profile and a practical plan to address it. We believe that education is part of the treatment — so you always know the “why” behind your care.
Frequently Asked Questions About Athlete Movement Screening
How long does a movement screening take?
Most movement assessments take between 45 and 60 minutes. However, the exact length depends on your history and the complexity of your movement patterns. Your therapist will use the time efficiently to gather the most useful information possible.
Do I need to be injured to benefit from a movement screening?
Not at all. In fact, movement screenings are most valuable when you are healthy and looking to stay that way. Therefore, athletes who want to prevent injuries and optimize performance are ideal candidates — no pain required.
Can a movement assessment help with recurring injuries?
Absolutely. Recurring injuries often signal an underlying movement dysfunction that has not been corrected. A thorough screening identifies the root cause. As a result, your care plan addresses the real problem rather than just the symptom.
Is athlete movement screening only for competitive athletes?
No. Active adults at any level benefit from movement assessments. Whether you are a competitive runner, a recreational pickleball player, or someone who simply wants to stay fit and pain-free in Tempe’s active climate, a screening provides valuable insight.
Does Control Physical Therapy accept patients from outside Tempe?
Yes. We welcome patients from throughout the greater Phoenix area, including Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, Gilbert, Phoenix, and beyond. Our clinic is conveniently located and easy to reach from across the Valley.
Take Control of Your Athletic Health Today
Your athletic goals deserve a foundation built on sound movement. Whether you are chasing a personal record, recovering from an injury, or simply trying to stay active and pain-free, an athlete movement screening gives you the clarity to move forward with confidence.
At Control Physical Therapy, we are passionate about helping Tempe-area athletes perform at their best and stay healthy for the long haul. Our knowledgeable, compassionate team is ready to meet you where you are and build a plan that works for your life and your goals.
Do not wait for an injury to take action. Contact Control Physical Therapy today to schedule your movement assessment and take the first step toward stronger, smarter athletic performance.
We are open Monday through Friday. Reach us at (480) 474-4921 or email us at info@controlphysicaltherapy.com. We look forward to helping you move better and perform at your best.
Article created by Atomic Social Workspace.