30 minute consultation
Return to exercise assessment
Getting back into activity after time away? The hard part is knowing how to start without doing too much too soon. This assessment looks at how your feet, lower limbs and movement are handling load as you build back up, then sets out a plan matched to where you are now.
Who it is for
Is this you?
Many of the people we see are returning to activity after time focused on family or work, and want to put some attention back on their own health.
Why it happens
Why people get sore returning to exercise
We regularly see people who begin with plenty of motivation, then within a few weeks notice heel pain, Achilles or ankle soreness, arch pain or knee discomfort.
This is usually not the exercise itself. More often, the body is not yet ready for the increase in load. Understanding that gap early is what this assessment is about.
Common contributing factors
- Reduced ankle or foot mobility
- Lower strength or load tolerance
- Previous injuries that have not fully settled
- Footwear that is not suited to your activity
Looking beyond the foot
What we look at
Foot and ankle function matters, and so does how the whole lower limb controls movement. For some people, strength or control through the hips and core changes how the feet and legs are loaded.
Foot and ankle function
Foot posture, ankle and big toe mobility, and how the foot moves.
Strength and load
Your strength and how much load the lower limb can handle.
Movement control
Balance, single leg control and stability through the hips and pelvis.
Footwear
Whether your current footwear suits the activity you are starting.
In your appointment
What happens in your consultation
Your assessment fits within a standard 30 minute appointment, focused on how your body will respond to exercise now, not how it used to.
Foot and ankle
We assess how your feet move and function, and check ankle and big toe mobility.
Strength and load
We look at your strength and your ability to handle load through the lower limb.
Movement control
We assess basic movement control through the lower limb and pelvis.
Walking or running
Where relevant, we carry out a walking or running assessment. Gait assessment
Footwear
We review your current footwear against the activity you are starting.
Your plan
We discuss the type of exercise you are starting and map out a plan with you.
After your appointment
What you leave with
- A clear picture of how your body is handling load right now
- Guidance on how much to do and how to build up gradually
- Advice on footwear and support options
- Targeted exercises for mobility, strength or control where needed
- A plan matched to your current level
- A clear starting point, so you are not guessing where to begin
Where it leads
Activities we help people return to
Related
Where this connects
Book your return to exercise assessment
Available as a standard 30 minute consultation. Book online, or call the clinic on (03) 9877 2077.
Shop 26/500 Canterbury Rd, Forest Hill VIC 3131. We see patients from Blackburn, Vermont, Nunawading and the surrounding eastern suburbs.