Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA)

What is Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA)?

The Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) is a comprehensive assessment that classifies movement patterns. This system helps us recognize meaningful impairments and integrate the current best evidence (manual therapy and therapeutic exercise) for treating musculoskeletal conditions. It is designed to treat patients with orthopedic and sports conditions.

Functional Movement Assessment, popularized in sports medicine research by the Functional Movement Screen and Y-Balance Test, has taught us that capturing injury risk must include the assessment of body relative movement patterns. When the clinical assessment is initiated from the perspective of full body movement patterns, we have the opportunity to identify meaningful impairments that may be seemingly unrelated to the main musculoskeletal diagnosis but are contributing to the primary complaint (regional interdependence).

The SFMA extends beyond the traditional kinematic chain approach to explore the current best evidence explaining how pain and injury adversely affect motor control. The assessment and exercise intervention model incorporate the basic tenets of human movement from a neuro-developmental perspective. The participant will learn how to identify a patient’s most dysfunctional movement pattern and break that pattern down into its fundamental parts. This will reveal the most meaningful impairment (mobility or stability deficit) to be addressed.

What is Functional Movement Screen (FMS)?

This screen is designed to be a predictor of injury incidence among athletes. Seven fundamental movement patterns are graded, revealing asymmetries and limitations that could and often do result in injury. Used by strength coaches and athletic trainers for professional sports teams, this tool is invaluable for anyone taking on a strength and conditioning program. For more information regarding this service, please visit www.functionalmovement.com.