What is SFMA?

 

SFMA stands for:  Selective Functional Movement Sytems.

 

• The SFMA is a comprehensive assessment that classifies movement patterns. This system helps the clinician recognize meaningful impairments and integrate the current best evidence (manual therapy and therapeutic exercise) for treating musculoskeletal conditions.

• Dr. Donald Berry DC is certified in both FMS(Funcitonal Movement Systems) and SFMA (Selective Functional Movement Systems.

• Both systems use a score sheet to acess movement patterns and recognize impairment.

• Each test of the SFMA is scored as functional/non-painful, dysfunctional/non-painful, functional/painful or dysfunctional/painful. The goal for the clinician is to identify the most dysfunctional non-painful movement pattern and break the pattern down to identify the underlying cause of the dysfunction. This includes using traditional muscle length and joint assessment tests which lead to corrective manual therapy and exercise interventions. Emphasis is placed on identifying the most dysfunctional patterns. The model calls for the intervention to be directed only at the non-painful patterns. This ensures that the adverse effects of pain on motor control will not hinder corrective strategies.Applying the SFMA model will allow for individualized exercise prescription and progression, which encompasses the concept of regional interdependence.

• The SFMA serves to efficiently integrate the concepts of posture, muscle balance and the fundamental patterns of the movement system into musculoskeletal practice. Additionally, it provides feedback for the effectiveness of the therapeutic exercise program, which targets the dysfunctional movement pattern and related impairments.