Functional Movement Scan – FMS

The Selective Functional Movement Assessment is a paradigm shift in the assessment and treatment of orthopedic conditions. The SFMA is a comprehensive movement assessment used to categorize movement patterns and direct manual therapy and therapeutic exercise choices. The goal is to identify specific movement limitations that are causing you pain. This assessment can also determine if these movements are due to tightness or weakness.

In this method, we use a baseline criteria for each of the movement patterns that everyone should be able to achieve. This baseline criteria uses two grading scales: functional or dysfunctional, painful or non-painful.

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 selective functional movement assessment consists of seven full body movements. These are fundamental movements of life, such as bending forward and squatting. When a non-painful dysfunctional movement is found, the clinician then breaks out the movement into the segment parts and addresses those. Then after the intervention, manual therapy (massage), manipulation, mobilization, exercise or drill, the clinician reassess the progress of the movement.