When was the last time you had a movement check-up?
If you’re like most people, you may never of had a standardized movement screen. However, you probably go to the dentist twice per year.
You go to the dentist for regular maintenance. You don’t wait till you have a toothache. This practice helps prevent problems from happening.
In addition to your regular dentist visits, hopefully, you’re brushing your teeth twice per day as well as flossing & using mouthwash.
Why not treat your body as well as your teeth? You have only one body & you should take good care of it!
Schedule a movement screen with a Personal Trainer or a Physical Therapist (PT) once every 6 months, just like you schedule your dental appointments. A good movement screen should reveal any existing movement problems. Once these problems are identified, you & your Personal Trainer or PT can set up a program to address them & restore efficient movement.
The Functional Movement Screen (FMS), is a popular screen used to assess injury risk in active populations. The FMS is intended for healthy active people as well as healthy inactive people who want to increase physical activity. If you have pain, you should see a Physical Therapist to treat your pain before you go for a Functional Movement Screen. The FMS takes approximately 15 minutes to complete, & is comprised of 7 movements to challenge your mobility & stability in a variety of positions. Each movement will be scored 0-4.
0: Pain observed with movement
1: Inefficient movement
2: Acceptable movement
3: Efficient movement
Following the FMS, you will be placed in one of three groups:
- Cleared to be active without increased risk of injury (all movements acceptable)
- At risk for injury unless movement patterns are improved (any inefficient movements)
- Currently injured, requiring more advanced assessment by a PT
If you have any pain on a movement screen, you should schedule an evaluation with a PT. If you ignore pain or train through it, you will compensate. Those compensations are often subconscious, & will cause excessive wear & tear on the joints above & below.
A good PT will evaluate your painful areas & identify the root cause of your problem. They will work with you to resolve your issue so you can get back to the activities you enjoy. A good PT will use hands-on techniques to loosen tight muscles & ease stiff joints as well as educate you on corrective exercise & teach you ways to help your problem from recurring again in the future.
Schedule a movement screen with a Personal Trainer or Physical Therapist. I am certified in the Functional Movement Screen, as well as the Selective Functional Movement Assessment, which is the next step for someone who had pain with the FMS or is injured. The Personal Trainers at Lightcap Fitness Studios are also trained in the FMS, & would be able to customize a personal training program for you based off of your findings in the screen.
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