What to Expect From a Musculoskeletal (MSK) Assessment

A musculoskeletal (MSK) assessment is designed for people with foot, ankle, knee or lower-limb pain who want clarity on what’s causing their symptoms and a plan that matches their goals. The appointment is structured, thorough, and centred on understanding both the problem and what you need to get back to doing.

Step 1: In-Depth History Taking

Your appointment starts with a detailed conversation so we can fully understand the problem, including:

• Past medical history and any conditions that may influence recovery

• Previous injuries or surgery

• Current medications and any relevant risk factors

• Your symptoms in detail: when they started, how they feel, and how they behave day to day

• Mechanism of injury (what happened at the time) or, if it developed gradually, what changed (training, footwear, work demands, activity levels)

• What you’ve tried already and what helped or didn’t help

This information is crucial. It helps us narrow down the likely diagnosis and avoids treating symptoms in isolation.

Step 2: Your Individual Goals and Expectations

Next, we discuss what matters most to you and what outcome you’re aiming for. This includes:

• What you need to return to (work, walking, sport, running, gym training)

• Any time pressures (events, travel, competitions)

• Your expectations around recovery timeframes

• What you feel able to commit to (rehab time, footwear changes, follow-ups)

This ensures the plan is realistic and tailored—because “success” looks different for different people.

Step 3: Thorough Injury and Biomechanics Assessment

We then carry out a comprehensive clinical assessment, which may include:

• Examination of the painful area (joints, tendons, fascia, soft tissues)

• Range of motion and flexibility testing

• Strength, control and functional movement tests

• Assessment of biomechanics and lower-limb alignment

• Review of footwear and load patterns where relevant

• Gait assessment (walking/running) when appropriate, including video analysis if it adds value

The aim is to understand not only what’s irritated, but why it’s being overloaded or failing to settle.

Step 4: Treatment Planning—Agreed With You

Once we’ve assessed you, we explain the findings clearly and talk through your options. The treatment plan is then agreed with you, taking into account:

• Your diagnosis (or working diagnosis)

• Contributing factors identified in the assessment

• Your goals, expectations, and lifestyle constraints

• The most sensible next steps and likely timelines

Where appropriate, your plan may include a combination of rehabilitation, gait retraining, footwear advice, orthoses, or clinic-based therapies. If we feel you would benefit from additional input, we can also coordinate onward referral through our network (for example physiotherapy or orthopaedic opinion).

What You’ll Leave With

You should leave your MSK assessment with:

• A clear explanation of what we think is causing your pain

• A straightforward, easy-to-follow plan tailored to your goals

• Specific next steps (what to start, what to avoid, and what to change)

• A follow-up plan if needed, including what progress should look like and when to review

Book a Musculoskeletal Assessment

If pain is limiting your walking, work, or sport, an MSK assessment is the most direct way to get clarity and a practical plan.  You can book online at any time of day by using the online booking facility below or by calling (01738)718777.