How can you individualize Functional Training programs with SFMA?

The Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) serves as a pivotal tool in the arsenal of physical therapists and sports medicine professionals, aimed at uncovering the root causes of pain and dysfunction within the musculoskeletal system. Through its seven top-tier tests, which evaluate fundamental movement patterns like bending, squatting, and rotating, SFMA classifies each as functional or dysfunctional, and as painful or non-painful. This classification guides practitioners to more targeted assessments to precisely identify problem areas. SFMA's structured approach ensures a methodical and evidence-based pathway for diagnosing and addressing movement issues, promoting a more accurate and effective intervention strategy.

SFMA, or Selective Functional Movement Assessment, is a tool that may help provide a systematic approach to evaluating movement patterns. It may identify dysfunctional movement patterns, restrictions, or imbalances in the body. Once these issues are pinpointed through SFMA, functional training programs can be tailored to address and correct these specific issues. It’s also important to note that as humans we all move differently, so the word “dysfunction” is used loosely. Use your clinical judgement on what may seem “dysfunctional” when using the SFMA.

Is there a body of Research on selective functional movementassessment? Is it reliable? Is it associated with injury? Does it predict injury? Does changing it improve symptoms more than other active therapies?

SFMA's relationship with Functional Training is deeply synergistic. Functional Training, with its emphasis on exercises that mimic real-life activities and enhance overall body coordination, stability, mobility, and strength, greatly benefits from the personalized insights provided by SFMA. By identifying a client's unique movement profile, including their specific dysfunctions and compensations, SFMA enables the design of Functional Training programs tailored to each individual's needs. This bespoke approach ensures that exercises not only prevent injuries and boost performance but are also highly relevant to the client's personal movement challenges and goals.

Utilizing SFMA to tailor Functional Training programs begins with a thorough SFMA assessment of the client. This initial step sheds light on their movement quality, functionality, and any associated pain, leading to a movement classification that informs the intervention strategy. This classification ranges from optimal and acceptable to dysfunctional (whether painful or not), directing the practitioner's focus to specific areas requiring intervention. Following this, the SFMA process delves into detailed assessments (breakouts), considers the interconnectedness of body regions (regional interdependence), and determines corrective strategies. This comprehensive approach ensures a well-rounded and client-specific Functional Training program.

Breakouts in the SFMA framework are detailed examinations following the initial broad assessments, designed to pinpoint the exact sources of dysfunction. These tests are categorized into joint mobility (evaluating passive motion and tissue state) and motor control (assessing active motion and stability). By identifying both primary and secondary contributors to movement issues, breakouts enable a focused and prioritized intervention plan, ensuring that efforts are directed where they are most needed for effective rehabilitation or performance enhancement.

The concept of regional interdependence underscores the interconnected nature of the body's various regions and systems. It acknowledges that dysfunction in one area can ripple through to affect distant parts of the body, often in ways that might not initially seem related. This perspective broadens the practitioner's diagnostic and treatment approach, encouraging a holistic view of the client's condition. Understanding regional interdependence is crucial for devising Functional Training programs that address not just the symptom but the underlying cause of dysfunction, ensuring a comprehensive and effective treatment strategy.

Corrective strategies in the SFMA framework are targeted interventions aimed at rectifying identified movement dysfunctions and restoring optimal movement patterns. These strategies are divided into mobility (enhancing joint motion and tissue health), stability (improving joint control and strength), reinforcement (integrating improvements into complex movements), and retraining (embedding new patterns into daily behavior). Selection and application of these strategies are based on detailed assessments and are continuously adapted to the client's evolving needs, ensuring a dynamic and responsive approach to Functional Training.

La clave es adaptar el programa de entrenamiento según las necesidades y capacidades específicas de cada persona, abordando de manera efectiva las disfunciones identificadas durante la evaluación SFMA.