Most of us book a dental cleaning, an eye exam, and a yearly visit with our doctor without thinking twice. Few of us ever get our movement checked: how strong our legs are, how steady we are on one foot, or how well we walk. A yearly physical therapy check-up fills that gap, and the start of 2027 is a good time to add one.
Changes in strength and balance tend to creep in slowly. You may not notice them until you have to grab the counter to stand up, or you trip on a curb you used to step over easily. The American Physical Therapy Association recommends that everyone visit a physical therapist at least once a year to keep moving well and to support health, wellness, and fitness (APTA, 2018). Here is what that visit looks like, who gets the most from it, and how it fits with the yearly checkup you already get from your doctor.
Why Movement Deserves Its Own Yearly Check
Falls are the clearest example of why this matters. More than one in four adults 65 and older falls each year, yet fewer than half tell their doctor, and one fall doubles the chance of another (CDC, 2026). Each year, falls by older adults lead to about 4.5 million emergency department visits. Falls are also the most common cause of traumatic brain injury in older adults.
The good news is that many of the biggest risk factors can be changed. The CDC lists lower body weakness, trouble with walking and balance, certain medicines, vision problems, foot pain or poor footwear, and home hazards among them (CDC, 2026). The National Institute on Aging adds age-related muscle loss, called sarcopenia, and blood pressure that drops when you stand up (NIA, 2022). Strength, balance, and walking are exactly what a physical therapist measures and treats.
Movement problems are not only about falls. Stiff hips, a weak core, or a shoulder that does not lift fully can lead to back pain, joint pain, or an injury when you return to a sport or a new workout. Catching these early is usually easier than treating them later.
What a PT Movement Check-Up Includes
Every check-up starts with a conversation about your health history, medicines, past injuries, any falls or near-falls, and what you want to be able to do this year. Then your therapist tests how you actually move. Depending on your age and goals, that may include:
Strength
Leg strength is a big part of staying independent. A common test is the 30-Second Chair Stand, which counts how many times you can stand up from a chair without using your arms. Your therapist may also test grip, hip, and core strength.
Balance
The 4-Stage Balance Test checks how long you can hold harder and harder standing positions, ending with standing on one foot. Your therapist may also check balance with your eyes closed, on a soft surface, or while turning your head.
Walking (gait)
Your therapist watches how you walk: your speed, step length, how your feet clear the floor, and how you turn. The Timed Up and Go test times how long it takes to stand from a chair, walk a short distance, turn, walk back, and sit down.
Mobility and flexibility
This includes how well your hips, knees, ankles, spine, and shoulders move, and whether stiffness or pain is limiting what you do.
Fall risk
The Timed Up and Go, 30-Second Chair Stand, and 4-Stage Balance Test are the standard gait, strength, and balance checks in the CDC's STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths & Injuries) program. STEADI asks providers to screen adults 65 and older for fall risk every year, assess risk factors in people who screen positive, and refer them for physical therapy when gait, strength, or balance is poor (CDC STEADI, 2019).
You leave with your results, a short home exercise plan aimed at your weak spots, and a clear answer on whether you need nothing more than a recheck next year, a few visits of therapy, or a conversation with your doctor.
Try the Self-Checks First
Want a head start? Our free balance and fall-risk self-checks let you try simplified home versions of these tests with built-in timers: the 30-Second Chair Stand, the 4-Stage Balance Test, the Timed Up and Go, and a fall risk self-check based on the CDC's 12-question checklist. Do them with a sturdy chair nearby and someone with you. Bring your results to your visit. Home tests are a starting point, not a diagnosis.
Who Benefits Most
- Adults 65 and older, especially anyone who has fallen, feels unsteady when standing or walking, or worries about falling. Those are the three key screening questions STEADI uses (CDC STEADI, 2019).
- People with health conditions that affect balance, such as diabetes, heart disease, nerve or foot problems, or arthritis (NIA, 2022).
- Anyone who finished physical therapy after a joint replacement, a stroke, or an injury and wants to make sure their gains are holding.
- Active adults starting a new sport, a running plan, or strength training, who want to find weak links before they cause an injury.
- People who have slowed down after an illness, a hospital stay, or a long winter indoors.
How It Fits With Your Annual Physical and Medicare Wellness Visit
A PT check-up does not replace your doctor's visit. It adds detail to it. If you have Medicare, your yearly Annual Wellness Visit already includes a review of your functional ability and safety, which covers your ability to do daily activities, your fall risk, your hearing, and home safety. Your provider can also refer you to programs for fall prevention and physical activity (CMS, 2026).
That screening is often a few questions. A physical therapy visit goes deeper, with timed tests and a plan you can act on. Here is a simple way to pair them:
- At your wellness visit, answer the fall questions honestly, including near-falls and any worry about falling.
- If you screen at risk, or if you just want a baseline, ask about physical therapy.
- Share your PT results with your doctor so your care team sees the same picture.
- Recheck in a year, or sooner if you fall or notice a change.
The American Geriatrics Society lists exercise programs with muscle strengthening and balance training among the steps that lower fall risk, along with proper shoes, treating vision problems, a home safety check, and a medication review (AGS, 2026). Physical therapy covers the exercise piece directly. An occupational therapist can help with the home safety piece.
Set Your Movement Goals for 2027
Your check-up is also a chance to plan the year. The federal Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans are the baseline (HHS, 2018). For adults 65 and older, the CDC sums them up as at least 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity, muscle-strengthening on at least 2 days, and activities that improve balance, such as walking heel-to-toe or practicing standing up from a chair (CDC, 2025). If you can't meet those yet, the CDC's advice is to be as active as your abilities allow, because some activity is better than none.
Your therapist can turn those numbers into a plan that fits your joints, your heart, and your schedule. They can also tell you when you are ready to progress. If balance is a concern, the plan can include our fall prevention program and the No Fall Protocol®, offered at all of our adult clinics. For more ideas, read why seniors fall, and how to prevent it.
When to See a Doctor Right Away
A movement check-up is for planning, not emergencies. Call 911 or get urgent care for:
- A fall where you hit your head, especially if you take a blood thinner. The CDC advises older adults who fall and hit their head to see a doctor right away (CDC, 2026).
- A fall after which you can't stand, can't put weight on a leg, or have new severe pain
- Sudden weakness or numbness in the face, arm, or leg, trouble speaking, or sudden loss of balance
- New dizziness or fainting with chest pain, shortness of breath, or a racing heartbeat
Tell your doctor about any fall since your last visit, even if you weren't hurt (NIA, 2022).
Book Your Check-Up at Holsman
You can schedule physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy directly. Some insurance plans require a referral for coverage; our staff will verify your benefits. Coverage rules can differ for a wellness-only visit and an evaluation for a specific problem such as a recent fall, pain, or trouble walking, so our team will explain what to expect before you come in. See our insurance page for details.
We have 17 clinics across New Jersey, the Bronx, and Brooklyn, including Lyndhurst, Fair Lawn, Newark, Jersey City, the Bronx, and Brooklyn. Find the clinic nearest you. If getting to a clinic is hard, ask about in-home therapy in Northern New Jersey; in New York, in-home care is provided by our sister practice, Home Therapy PT. Call 1-855-465-7626 or contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I see a physical therapist if nothing hurts?
The American Physical Therapy Association recommends that everyone visit a physical therapist at least once a year to keep moving well and support health and fitness. See your therapist sooner if you fall, feel unsteady, or notice a change in how you walk or move.
What does a physical therapy check-up test?
Your therapist reviews your health history and goals, then tests strength, balance, walking, mobility, and fall risk. Common tests include the 30-Second Chair Stand, the 4-Stage Balance Test, and the Timed Up and Go, which are part of the CDC's STEADI fall prevention program. You leave with your results and a home exercise plan.
Is a PT check-up the same as my Medicare Annual Wellness Visit?
No. The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is with your doctor or other provider and includes a review of your daily activities, fall risk, hearing, and home safety, often through questions. A physical therapy check-up goes deeper with timed strength, balance, and walking tests and a plan to improve them. The two work best together.
Will insurance cover an annual physical therapy check-up?
It depends on your plan and the reason for the visit. Coverage can differ for a wellness-only visit and an evaluation for a specific problem such as a recent fall, pain, or trouble walking. Our staff will verify your benefits and explain what to expect before your visit.
Can I check my balance at home first?
Yes. Holsman's free online self-checks include the 30-Second Chair Stand, 4-Stage Balance Test, Timed Up and Go, and a fall risk checklist based on the CDC's 12 questions. Do them with a sturdy chair nearby and another person present, and bring your results to your visit. They are a starting point, not a diagnosis.
Do I need a referral for physical therapy?
You can schedule physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy directly. Some insurance plans require a referral for coverage; our staff will verify your benefits.
Sources
- American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Annual Visit With a Physical Therapist (HOD P06-18-22-30). 2018.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Facts About Older Adult Falls. 2026.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), STEADI. STEADI Algorithm for Fall Risk Screening, Assessment, and Intervention. 2019.
- National Institute on Aging (NIA), NIH. Falls and Fractures in Older Adults: Causes and Prevention. 2022.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Annual Wellness Visit (Medicare Learning Network). 2026.
- American Geriatrics Society, HealthInAging.org. Fall Prevention: Care & Treatment. 2026.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ODPHP. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition (Current Guidelines). 2018.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Older Adult Activity: An Overview. 2025.
This article is for general education and isn't a substitute for an evaluation by a licensed clinician.