A man in a blue shirt performing a bench press with a barbell in a gym, supervised by a person standing beside him.

Selected Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA)

Practitioners trained in the SFMA use a standardized, movement-based system to assess individuals with known musculoskeletal pain. The goal is to identify the cause of dysfunctional movement patterns, not just the site of symptoms.

What Is SFMA?

The Selected Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) is a clinical diagnostic tool designed to evaluate seven fundamental movement patterns in individuals with pain or injury. Unlike standard assessments that focus solely on isolated joints or symptoms, SFMA uses a top-down approach to identify whether dysfunction stems from mobility limitations or stability and motor control issues.

Why It Matters

This systematic process allows clinicians to:

  • Break down complex movement into clear, testable patterns

  • Identify the root cause of dysfunction

  • Distinguish between mobility vs. motor control problems

  • Match treatment directly to the primary driver of the issue

The SFMA integrates key concepts from neurodevelopment, regional interdependence, and altered motor control to guide musculoskeletal care that is both holistic and highly individualized.

Care is collaborative here.

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