FMS: Applying the Model to Real Life Examples (DVD)

Several months ago I received Gray Cook's new DVD set, "Functional Movement Systems: Applying the model to real life examples" from Laree Draper of On Target Publications. While I have been meaning to post a review on this site for quite some time, life and learning has simply got in the way.

Thankfully, I have the privilege of supervising several bright young "interns" throughout the year who use me for my library of books, dvds and articles to help with their own learning.

Here is Dr. Elisabeth Pang's review of Gray's DVD set. She is a recent graduate of Logan Chiropractic College's Master's in Sport Science & Sports Rehabilitation Program.

​My first day at the clinic with Dr. Jeff, and I was welcomed by a stack of DVDs which were practically taller than me.  On the top of the stack was “Functional Movement Systems: Applying the Model to Real Life Examples” by Gray Cook.  But wait, I had just graduated from chiropractic college, so how much more did I have to learn?  I already had my philosophies, my exam methodologies, my manual techniques and most importantly my small group of exercises to prescribe.  Little did I know that watching this DVD would be an unexpected the start of a completely new way of thinking for me.  Gray’s evident passion for creating respect and consistency within the manual therapy and fitness professions made me begin to look back at all that I had learnt.  Immediately I was forced to respond to the questions he repeated:

• Why do we not have a standard operating procedure?
• Why is the most common cause of injury a previous injury?
• Are the exercises you are prescribing effective?  Keep in mind that 80% of your effectiveness is from 20% of what you do, so how do you know what is working and what isn’t?
• Why are there so many different methodologies for interpreting movement when we are all humans who essentially have the same movement patterns?

After just the first hour of this DVD, Gray had already captivated me with his presentation capabilities, his thought processes and most importantly his explanations.  Through asking tough but honest questions, I began to reconsider things I once thought I was sure about and for the next few hours I was pulled onto the proverbial “train” which was taking me towards a movement paradigm, one which I had not fully considered or understood before.

After the introduction, Gray shifted into describing some of the foundational components of the Functional Movement Screen.  What appeared to be a never-ending plethora of knowledge was at times overwhelming for somebody who had never been exposed to FMS, or Gray Cook before, however after revisiting some of the ideas it began to make complete sense.  Gray then cemented it in as we saw real-life examples of people with movement dysfunctions and possible corrective strategies or limited time activity restrictions. The best part was that he chose people from all sorts of life; a young triathlete, a previous college athlete, an aged fitness guru, etc. – people who obviously move often, but not necessarily well.  This helped to emphasize in my mind the previous mantra that athletes are the humans who have the best compensatory outputs.

As a new comer into the movement paradigm shift, I am sure that I only picked out the basics of this methodology.  However, a good foundation must come before all of the little nuances.  With that, the following are points which stood out to me, and ones which I will need to remind myself of time and time again as I focus on becoming better versed in FMS;

• Motor learning is based on full movement patterns as opposed to specific body parts and muscles;
• Faulty movement patterns are typically due to muscle inhibition rather than weakness; and
• Clear mobility issues first, because stability is sensory driven (you need mobility to provide the sensory input to the body for reflexive stability).

Admittedly, this wealth of information and new way of thinking has given me a lot of work to do.  But this DVD was a great starting point.  It provided a solid base of knowledge with applicable examples to even further support FMS.  He brought simplicity and logic to a system that strives to ensure minimum proficiency in movement and functional standards.  For people who like me are new to Gray Cook and FMS, or even for those looking to further their comprehension of this approach this video is a great resource!  Now, looking back I can understand why it was on the top of the pile of DVDs I had to work my way through (which yes, I am still in the process of doing).

---