Pain And Injury Assessment

A Pain & Injury Assessment at East Devon Physical Therapy is designed to give you clarity fast: what’s driving your pain, what’s limiting you, and what to do next. Based at our Axminster clinic, we combine expert clinical reasoning with advanced testing (when it’s useful) so you leave with a clear, evidence-based plan—not guesswork.

Step 1: Background chat (subjective assessment)

We start with a detailed conversation to understand you, not just the body part that hurts. We’ll talk through your medical history, previous injuries or surgeries, medications, relevant health conditions, and your current lifestyle (work, sport, training load, sleep and stress). Then we zoom in on the problem: when the pain started, what makes it better or worse, how it behaves through the day, and what you can and can’t do right now. This “subjective” assessment helps us form an initial working theory and ensures we choose the most appropriate physical tests for your needs.

Step 2: Objective testing (tailored to you)

Next, we carry out the most relevant objective assessment to confirm what’s going on and identify the root cause. This always includes thorough clinical testing—joint and soft tissue assessment, range of motion, strength, control, and provocation tests where appropriate. Depending on your symptoms and goals, we may add more specific performance and movement diagnostics such as:

Footscan pressure analysis to assess loading patterns and foot function
Walking or running gait analysis to identify movement contributors to pain or recurring injury
Strength testing (including targeted muscle groups and functional capacity)
Movement testing (squat, hinge, step, hop, balance, sport-specific patterns)

Step 3: Findings, explanation, and next steps

We explain what we’ve found in plain English, link it to your symptoms, and outline the best route forward. Where appropriate, treatment may begin the same day, and you’ll leave with a personalised plan that can include hands-on treatment, rehab exercises, loading guidance, and a clear progression pathway.

Book your Pain & Injury Assessment today and get a precise diagnosis-led plan to move better, feel stronger, and return to what you love.