What are the Functional Movement Systems?

Movement is a vital part of life. It keeps our bodies healthy and allows us to enjoy life to the fullest. However, over time we often develop movement patterns that are not ideal or don’t allow us to get the best out of our bodies. Sometimes this can cause pain, while other times it just means we are not operating at our best.

The Functional Movement Systems are made up of two different tests - the Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) and the Functional Movement Screen (FMS). The SFMA is used when people are experiencing pain and the FMS can be used for a wide range of purposes - such as when someone is beginning a new exercise program or returning to exercise after a period of inactivity.

The systems were developed by Gray Cook (MSPT, OCS, CSCS) to provide a framework within which to address movement issues and disorders. The principles of the system are applicable to anybody.

Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA)

Most of the time, when people book an appointment with us, it is because they are experiencing pain. For some people this pain is chronic or linked with something specific - for example, pregnancy or a known injury. However, often people experience pain without knowing its cause. This can be one of the more frustrating types of pain to deal with, because you don’t know where to begin in treating it.

The SFMA is a diagnostic assessment that we conduct for people who are experiencing pain. Rather than simply seeing a sore back or leg and treating the symptoms, we go deeper to discover the actual cause of the pain so we can work to correct it and try to prevent it from recurring. It is based on a concept called ‘regional interdependence’, which looks at how problems that initially don’t seem to be connected are actually working in tandem to cause pain.

The SFMA is a systematic way to identify the way your body may be impeded in its mobility and motor control and the functional movement patterns that could be causing or complicating your pain.

The assessment is based on categorising human movement patterns, not measuring body parts. It looks at functional movement in and assesses:

Spine
Upper extremity
Whole body flexion
Whole body extension
Whole body rotation
Single leg stance
Overhead deep squat

Functional Movement Screen (FMS)

The FMS is a simple, 10-minute tool for standardised movement screening, which is usually used for people who are not experiencing immediate pain. It allows us to see how people of all ages are moving in their day-to-day lives. The FMS looks at stability and mobility of individuals and provides us with information to develop customised movement and treatment plans for each individual.

The FMS identifies different patterns of a person’s movement - both patterns that are ideal and those that are not. Once we have this information, we can develop and load the movement patterns that are already functioning well and correct those that aren’t. This screening can also be conducted at the end of rehabilitation from an injury to help us find the best way to return to activity.

There are seven fundamental movement patterns that are covered in this screening:

Deep squat
Hurdle step
Inline lunge
Shoulder mobility
Active straight leg raise
Trunk stability push up
Rotary stability

What happens next?

Once you have undergone either the SFMA (to assess existing pain) or the FMS (to examine movement patterns) the first step will be to correct any issues within your fundamental movement that are causing pain or may lead to problems in the future.

Addressing these issues may take the form of hands-on manual therapy, or corrective and rehabilitative exercise. With the framework of the FMS and SFMA providing a road-map to better movement, the Functional Movement Systems may contribute to better outcomes for patients where pain is caused by underlying movement dysfunctions.

Functional Movement Systems at Thrive Canberra

Our team is experienced with both the SFMA and FMS and can work with you to conduct the most suitable test and work through the results with you. Once your movement patterns have been observed and assessed, we will work with you to devise a customised plan for correcting any identified movement issues and developing and loading movement patterns that are already working well.