Quantifying Quality

On May 19, 2010, in Clinical Testing, Injury Prevention, Sports Performance, Therapeutic Methods, by jcubos

For those of you in either of the strength and conditioning or rehabilitation industries, you are very likely to be familiar with the Functional Movement Sceen (FMS) and the Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA).

The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is a ranking and grading system that documents movement patterns that are key to normal function. By screening these patterns, the FMS readily identifies functional limitations and asymmetries. These are issues that can reduce the effects of functional training and physical conditioning and distort body awareness.

The FMS generates the Functional Movement Screen Score, which is used to target problems and track progress. This scoring system is directly linked to the most beneficial corrective exercises to restore mechanically sound movement patterns.

Exercise professionals monitor the FMS score to track progress and to identify those exercises that will be most effective to restore proper movement and build strength in each individual. (…cont’d)

The Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) is a series of 7 full-body movement tests designed to assess fundamental patterns of movement such as bending and squatting in those with known musculoskeletal pain. When the clinical assessment is initiated from the perspective of the movement pattern, the clinician has the opportunity to identify meaningful impairments that may be seemingly unrelated to the main musculoskeletal complaint, but contribute to the associated disability. This concept, known as Regional Interdependence, is the hallmark of the SFMA.

The assessment guides the clinician to the most dysfunctional non-painful movement pattern, which is then assessed in detail. This approach is designed to complement the existing exam and serve as a model to efficiently integrate the concepts of posture, muscle balance and the fundamental patterns of movement into musculoskeletal practice. By addressing the most dysfunctional non-painful pattern, the application of targeted interventions (manual therapy and therapeutic exercise) is not adversely affected by pain. (…cont’d)

To describe the above in layman’s terms, the FMS is a screen to identify who may be at risk based on their presenting movement patterns. Why they are at risk is not the objective here, it is simply a filter. On the other hand, the SFMA is an assessment tool aimed at determining one’s cause of pain.

If you are interested in learning more about these systems and especially how to apply them in a clinical / rehabilitation setting, I urge you to join Sports Rehabilitation Expert.