Functional movement refers to the movements our bodies are called upon to perform on a regular basis. There are six fundamental movement patterns our bodies must be able to perform in order to move optimally and live injury free: bend, squat, lunge, push, pull, and twist. Everything we do, from mowing the lawn and taking out the trash to playing basketball, is a combination of two or more of these fundamental movements. If we are inhibited or limited in any of these movements, then our training, physical conditioning, and body awareness are also impaired.
When designing any exercise program, I first like to assess a client’s movement patterns. So, I use a Functional Movement Screen (FMS) developed by physical therapist Gray Cook. The FMS tells me where the “weak link” in a client’s body lies. If he or she can’t perform a movement pattern properly, then I know it is likely due to a limitation or weakness. If left unaddressed, these imbalances may lead to poor performance and/or injury. With the information that I glean from the Functional Movement Screen, I can then design a corrective exercise program to bring the body back in balance. The FMS also gives me a baseline to gauge future progress. It takes only a few minutes to perform the entire screen whenever I want to see how effective our corrective exercise program has been.
Gray Cook has written a book, Athletic Body in Balance, I highly recommend picking it up if you want a do-it-yourself version of the FMS and corrective exercise program. For all my New York readers, give me a call (212-FURTHER) and I will be happy to take you through a complimentary screening myself.
Jamie Dreyer is a co-founder of Blog Further and President of Further Fitness NYC.
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