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The Movement Check-Up: Why Regular Physical Therapy Assessments Should Be Part of Your Preventive Healthcare Routine


A visual metaphor showing regular maintenance activities side by side: dental check-up, car maintenance, physician check-up, and a physical therapy movement assessment - connecting the familiar concept of preventive maintenance to the new application of Physical Therapy as a preventive measure in healthcare.


Imagine you wake up one day and suddenly realize you can't don your socks without sitting down, or that you can't swing your golf clubs without experiencing back pain. For millions of Americans, these functional limitations can develop gradually until they become an unexpected challenge or are too painful to perform.



Man with low back pain from playing golf comes into a physical therapy clinic for help


For most of us, it's routine to schedule dental cleanings twice a year, or to have a yearly check-up with a physician, yet a majority of Americans ignore one of the most fundamental aspects of health until it fails — the ability to move effectively.



WHAT IF...


What if a movement assessment could identify a subtle shoulder dysfunction that, if treated promptly, could prevent or significantly reduce the likelihood of future surgery?


What if a golf assessment could identify your injury risk before you complain of low back or neck pain?



Physical therapist demonstrates the importance of mobility as part of a movement assessment


Fortunately, these "what if's" aren't just theoretical possibilities, they're practical real life solutions designed to detect and correct musculoskeletal problems in their infancy.


Movement experts like me have long known from clinical experience that movement quality is a vital sign that can help predict musculoskeletal health and longevity. Just as dentistry revolutionized oral health through preventive care as opposed to treating only painful tooth emergencies, physical therapy (PT) is the answer for addressing movement health as a preventive solution.


Think about it like this: your body is the vehicle that carries you through life. Isn't it time we started giving your body the same regular maintenance we provide for our cars, our teeth, and our bank accounts?


So are you willing to embrace the paradigm shift from reactive PT treatment to proactive PT prevention?




EVIDENCE FOR PREVENTIVE PHYSICAL THERAPY CARE



Physical therapist performing a shoulder mobility assessment on a client with shoulder dysfunction.

A 2023 Harris poll indicated that the US healthcare system failed to meet 73% of American adults' needs. The poll also showed that respondents felt that the U.S. healthcare system focused on treating acute problems rather than preventative care and wellness. Considering the United States has the worst healthcare outcomes among wealthy countries (Tikkanen and Abrams 2020), it's time for Americans to consider the rationale of paying for costly health insurance that doesn't emphasize preventive medicine — where is the value in paying for medical health insurance that fails to meet most American's needs? Isn't it about time we take a proactive approach to our health, instead of reacting to an injury or an illness that's preventable?


  1. Economic Impact

The financial case for scheduling regular movement assessments is like investing in your IRA — regular deposits yield rich returns over time. A 2018 study demonstrated that early PT intervention saved an average of $2,736 per patient with low back pain by reducing unnecessary imaging, medication use, and surgical interventions (Frogner et al. 2018). And while the study didn't make a case for regular movement assessments, a regular movement assessment would certainly highlight the need for early PT intervention in those suffering from low back pain.


Secondarily, its worthwhile to consider that patients in this study who didn't receive imaging, medication, or surgery had more time to do the things that mattered to them — they weren't wasting time driving to and from an imaging or surgical center, they weren't sitting in a waiting room watching and waiting for their healthcare provider to arrive, they didn't have to spend months recovering from an unnecessary surgery, and they didn't have to spend time on the phone with their physician's office or their pharmacy trying to get a prescription refilled.



For many of us, time is valuable and has a significant impact on our lives, be it economic or otherwise. And if $2,736 in savings isn't impressive, the CDC estimated that falls among older adults cost the U.S. healthcare system $50 billion annually, while preventive PT programs demonstrated a 35% reduction in fall risk. Therefore, the economic argument for PT as a preventive solution becomes even stronger (like $17.5 billion stronger!).


Prevention pays: Patients receiving preventive physical therapy showed 19% lower healthcare costs over two years compared to those who waited until problems developed - Health Services Research 2020.



  1. Early Detection Success

Just as dental checkups catch cavities before they turn into root canals, movement screenings can identify problems while they're still reversible. A five-year longitudinal study in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy found that adults receiving regular movement assessments experienced less chronic pain development compared to those who received care only after problems became symptomatic (Fritz et al. 2012). Therefore, doesn't it make sense to have regular musculoskeletal checkups to identify and treat minor acute musculoskeletal problems before they start affecting multiple body systems and locations, and before they become something chronic? Of course it does!


Physical therapist working with a client on improving his hip mobility by getting into a half kneeling position

TRUE STORY: A client came to me complaining of shoulder pain. Following a few sessions this client no longer had shoulder pain, however I noticed that this particular client had difficulty performing a squat (which was critical for my client's line of work) during my movement assessment. After follow-up testing, I discovered that this client had severe tightness in both hips which placed excessive stress on the low back. My client reported having some minor low back pain episodes a few years ago but didn't think anything of it. Once we normalized my client's hip mobility, there was no longer tension reported in the low back when squatting. Although my client never complained of back pain while working with me, by reducing stress on the low back this client avoided a recurrence of back pain that was literally right around the corner!




  1. Prevention Vs. Treatment

The traditional US healthcare model is designed to provide Physical Therapy services when the insured becomes injured. A comprehensive analysis of 30,000 employees by Harvard researchers revealed that companies implementing movement screening and/or wellness programs reduced healthcare costs by $3.27 and absenteeism costs by $2.73 for every dollar spent. This proactive approach suggests that when you invest in preventive strategies, it's beneficial for both your health outcomes and your return on investment (i.e. you!).




In Conclusion: Prevention Pays Dividends


The evidence for Physical Therapy as a preventive solution should be a no brainer — movement quality is a vital sign for everyone and deserves regular lifetime monitoring. Just as we've embraced preventive care for our teeth, our car, and our blood pressure, it's time we incorporate the same proactive approach to our musculoskeletal health.


Visual metaphor showing the similarities between dentistry, auto care, primary care physician visits, and physical therapy as preventive services designed to save long term costs and prevent problems.

The cost of waiting until mobility limitations affect your daily life is measured not just in dollars but in missed opportunities (like lower golf scores!) and a compromised quality of life. The good news? A comprehensive movement assessment performed at least twice a year can provide the roadmap you need to avoid future pitfalls while improving your movement capacity. Remember, investing in your health can yield rich rewards in both time and money!


Take Action Today


For Golfers: The Golf Mobility Assessment

Your golf game depends on more than just technique — it requires a body capable of producing efficient, repeatable movements. Our specialized Golf Mobility Assessment examines specific movement patterns critical to your swing, identifies limitations that may be affecting your performance or increasing your injury risk, and provides targeted recommendations to help you play better and keep you healthy.




For Everyone: The Comprehensive Movement Assessment

Our standard Movement Assessment provides a thorough evaluation of your fundamental movement patterns, which can identify problem areas before you have pain or activity limitations.



The journey to better health begins with understanding your movement. Schedule your movement assessment today because the best time to address mobility limitations is before they become problematic.


Here’s to your health (your future self will thank you)!


Dr. David Didlake, DPT

PT, Cert. SMT/DN, CSCS, Cert. TPI Medical Level 3, Dip. Osteopractic, FAAOMPT

Owner, Integrative Therapeutics "Home of the Saint Louis Golf Doc"

Follow me @theintegrativeclinic @thestlgolfdoc


For those interested in the scientific evidence utilized in this article, we've included a few key research citations:

References

  1. Harris Poll. (2023). The Patient Experience: Perspectives on Today's Healthcare. The Harris Poll. https://www.aapa.org/download/113513/?tmstv=1684243672.

  2. Tikkanen R, and Abrams, MK. U.S. Health Care from a Global Perspective, 2019: Higher Spending, Worse Outcomes? (Commonwealth Fund, Jan. 2020).

  3. Frogner BK, Harwood K, Andrilla CHA, Schwartz M, Pines JM. Physical Therapy as the First Point of Care to Treat Low Back Pain: An Instrumental Variables Approach to Estimate Impact on Opioid Prescription, Health Care Utilization, and Costs. Health Serv Res. 2018;53(6):4629-4646.

  4. Florence CS, Bergen G, Atherly A, Burns E, Stevens J, Drake C. Medical costs of fatal and nonfatal falls in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2018;66(4):693-698. doi:10.1111/jgs.15304.

  5. Fritz JM, Childs JD, Wainner RS, Flynn TW. Primary care referral of patients with low back pain to physical therapy: impact on future health care utilization and costs. Spine. 2012;37(25):2114-2121. doi:10.1097/BRS.0b013e31825d32f5.

  6. Baicker K, Cutler D, Song Z. Workplace wellness programs can generate savings. Health Aff (Millwood). 2010;29(2):304-311.


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  8. Understanding Pain: A Journey Through Your Body's Warning System. by Dr. David Didlake, DPT

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  11. What is Physical Therapy? Understanding Treatment, Benefits & Expert Care. by Dr. David Didlake, DPT


    This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before beginning any new treatment.

 
 
 

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