FMS – Functional Movement Screen
FMS is a screening process of seven basic movement patterns that identify asymmetries, mobility and stability problems, and the integration of these into an individual’s movement patterns. It is a quantitative screening process which gives a score for each movement pattern based on definitive criteria and highlights areas for improvement.
If a client needs intervention as indicated by the criteria captured in their screen, a programme is generated specifically to address the requirements in those particular movement patterns. The programme is specific to the individual for whom it is created. The programme is tailored to affect the required changes in their unique movement patterns.
On completion of the programme the screening process is repeated and again measured. The results and improvements are tangible as they are measurable.
SFMA – Selected Functional Movement Assessment
The SFMA is a comprehensive assessment used to classify movement patterns to direct manual therapy and therapeutic exercise interventions. It provides a movement pattern baseline into a musculoskeletal examination. It does not replace impairment measures or other specialised testing.
TThe SFMA helps to identify individual movement pattern deficiencies and the provocation of pain within movement patterns unique to the individual. Alongside a patient’s structure and medical diagnosis, the SFMA allows for creating the best, most efficient path to musculoskeletal treatment and exercise intervention.
TThe SFMA also creates an opportunity for reappraisal. When we treat a specific area of the body and specific impairment we can quickly see if that intervention changed only a local movement or had an effect on global or whole movement pattern competency.
TKey to SFMA is that observation of whole movement patterns may redirect and broaden the clinical focus by revealing limitations unrelated to the medical diagnosis but pertinent to the restoration of normal function. Medical diagnosis provides contraindications for treatment rather than a treatment plan. The SFMA is based partly on the concept of regional interdependence in that we assess and treat dysfunction away from the primary location of pain. It provides a guide to the most dysfunctional region that is adversely affecting the movement pattern.
TNumerous studies have linked dysfunction at one area of the body with pain and dysfunction in another area e.g. hip impairments that relate to lower back pain and thoracic spine impairments related to neck pain.
TThe SFMA is a diagnostic tool that works to find the cause of pain, explain the sources, and determine effective treatment thus shortening treatment time. Injury and pain alter motor control and therefore alter movement patterns. The SFMA traces dysfunction in the body that may be causing pain elsewhere.
MASSAGE THERAPY
Massage Therapy skilfully applied is useful for several reasons. It firstly allows us to feel muscles or muscle groups where you are tight. This gives us information about asymmetries and imbalances – left vs right, front vs back, lateral vs medial, where you may be using muscles inappropriately e.g. overusing a muscle group to compensate for pain or because another muscle group isn’t working, and gives us a general guide to what is normal tone for you. With appropriate pressure, depth and speed manual application can cause physical change in the muscle tone. It also allows us to identify trigger points.
Massage also has a direct effect on the SNS (Sympathetic Nervous System) inducing a more relaxed state both physically and mentally.
NEUROMUSCULAR THERAPY (NMT)
Neuromuscular Therapy is a specialised field of Massage Therapy which identifies and treats referred pain in the body. While pain is felt in a particular area, this area may not be the cause of the pain – it may be referred from elsewhere. The application of NMT techniques aims to eliminate the source of the pain thereby relieving the site of the pain.
OTHER TREATMENT
At the Clinic we also incorporate other contemporary treatment methods – dryneedling, mobilisation, myofascial release (MFR), stretching, and exercises. Every body is different in it’s needs and the way it responds to treatment.
Your body has its own unique needs and responses. We aim to identify what it needs, and provide the most appropriate treatments to facilitate normal pain-free movement.
