The SFMA (Selective Functional Movement Assessment) is a diagnostic system based on movement, consisting of seven fundamental movement patterns. These tests are designed to evaluate movements such as bending and squatting in individuals with known musculoskeletal pain. The assessment systematically identifies the source of symptoms by logically breaking down dysfunctional movement patterns and diagnosing their root cause as either a mobility issue or a stability/motor control problem.
This systematic process allows our doctors to precisely target the main source of the problem in our patients. The SFMA model integrates concepts of altered motor control, the neurodevelopmental perspective, and regional interdependence into musculoskeletal practice.
The primary goal of the SFMA is to identify specific movement limitations that cause pain. It also determines if these limitations are due to tightness or weakness. In SFMA terms, "tightness" refers to joint mobility dysfunction and/or tissue extensibility dysfunction, while "weakness" refers to stability and/or motor control dysfunction.
To achieve this, the SFMA evaluates seven movement patterns that broadly assess overall movement. Each pattern has baseline criteria that everyone should be able to meet, graded as functional or dysfunctional, and painful or non-painful.
By identifying which movements are functional, dysfunctional, painful, or non-painful, we can pinpoint problematic areas of the body. When one of the seven movement patterns is found to be dysfunctional, we examine a subset of movements, known as "breakouts," to determine the cause.
It's important to note that the SFMA is not a treatment but an assessment tool. The information gathered from this assessment, such as the diagnosis of joint mobility dysfunction, tissue extensibility dysfunction, or stability/motor control dysfunction, helps us determine the best course of treatment to address the cause of the dysfunctional movement.
