Selective Functional Movement Assessment
The Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) is a movement based system which helps healthcare professionals assess, diagnose and treat movement dysfunction.
The SFMA is designed to evaluate and track the quality of fundamental movement patterns. Rather than focusing on specific isolated regions of the body the SFMA involves a comprehensive analysis of common movement patterns to identify any dysfunctions that may contribute to pain, injury, or compromised performance.
SFMA TOP TIER MOVEMENTS
Key features of the SFMA include:
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Top-Tier Assessment: The top-tier assessment, looks at global movement patterns (movements involving multiple joints and muscles) before delving into more local assessments. These global movements are often a more extreme version of the movements they we perform on a day to day basis.
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Regional Interdependence: The SFMA recognizes the concept of regional interdependence, meaning that symptoms or dysfunction in one area of the body may be linked to, or affecting movement in another area. Therefore, it emphasizes assessing the entire body's movement in patterns rather than isolating specific joints or muscles.
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Movement Patterns: The SFMA categorizes movement patterns into seven fundamental patterns:
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Cervical Patterns
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Upper Extremity Patterns
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Multi-Segmental Flexion Patterns
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Multi-Segmental Extension Patterns
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Multi-Segmental Rotation Patterns
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Single Leg Patterns
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Overhead Deep Squat Patterns
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Assessment and Treatment: Once dysfunctions are identified, the SFMA provides a framework for appropriate corrective exercises and interventions. These may include joint articulation, massage, mobility exercises, stability exercises, and movement pattern retraining to address the identified issues.
SFMA is used in conjunction with other assessment and treatment tools and clinical judgment. It is widely utilized in the fields of rehabilitation, athletic training, and strength and conditioning to guide personalized interventions for individuals with movement-related issues.
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