Testing for Movement Dysfunction

Traditionally, medical providers (including physical therapists), have taken a reactive approach to health care.  In fact, the only reason you may have heard of, or experienced, physical therapy is probably as a result of injury or while recovering from surgery.  At Alliance Rehabilitation, one of the ways we take a proactive approach to health care is by identifying and correcting movement dysfunction before it results in pain or injury.

The primary tool we use to identify movement dysfunction in healthy individuals is a test called the Functional Movement Screen. The screen was created by physical therapists and athletic trainers to predict and prevent injuries in people of all ages and levels of fitness.  The Functional Movement Screen is as equally applicable to a young soccer player as it is to an older golfer. The screen is perfect for the weekend warrior, or anyone interested in knowing how well they move to prevent injury and perform optimally.

Here are two critical functional movements you can try at home:

Deep Squat

Stand in a doorway facing the door jam. Feet shoulder width apart and toes pointed slightly outward. Hold a dowel or broom stick overhead. Lower into a full squat position bringing the hips below the knees. Repeat the test 3 times. Grade yourself as PASS or FAIL. Pass: able to maintain heels flat, hips below knees and dowel overhead. *The deep squat requires optimal mobility at ankles, knees, hips, shoulders AND stability of the spine.

Plank

Lie on your stomach, place your hands even with your ears, legs straight and toes curled under. From this position, keeping your body as straight as a board, push your body off the floor as one unit. Repeat the test 3 times. Grade yourself as PASS or FAIL. Pass: body remains in a straight line as you lift off the floor.

*The plank requires optimal core and spine stabilization, and upper body strength.

The full test screens seven basic, yet comprehensive, movements which can identify small abnormalities in strength, stability, and range of motion. In fact, the information gained by completing this test is so significant that the Functional Movement Screen is currently being used in collegiate athletic programs at Stanford and USC, and as part of the NFL combine.

Are you taking a proactive approach to Movement?

Alliance Health's Movement is Medicine column is published weekly in the Features section of the Hanford Sentinel.

Chris Telesmanic is a doctor of physical therapy at Alliance Health in Fresno, CA. He alternates writing this column with Dr. Maria Fermoile. Both will be happy to answer questions submitted to chris@alliancehealthfresno.com or maria@alliancehealthfresno.com. Learn more about movement, fitness and health in this space each week, or by going to AllianceHealthFresno.com, or calling 559-478-5833.