Physiotherapy Physical Assessment: Adult Living with Obesity

The following recorded presentation and accompanying slides provide an overview of comprehensive physiotherapy physical assessment in adults living with obesity.
 

This resource offers guidance to support your clinical reasoning when planning and conducting a physical assessment, highlighting specific considerations that may be particularly relevant in this population.
 

It outlines a range of assessment areas, including anthropometric measurements, cardiorespiratory fitness and exercise assessment and musculoskeletal and physical function assessment.
 

The measures included are not exhaustive. Many components of the physical assessment (such
as balance, and mobility assessments) can be regarded as general assessment skills you’ve presumably developed for other clinical populations and therefore are not covered in detail. It is important to note that the specific focus of your assessment will also vary depending on your role in the care
of the individual (e.g., acute respiratory management versus rehabilitation for musculoskeletal conditions such as osteoarthritis, versus exercise prescription for the management of obesity and to prevent obesity related complications).