Using science to observe and assess your condition
Functional Movement
Dr. Keith Donato is a certified provider of both the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) and the Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA).
Analyzing your movement patterns with these clinical evaluations, Dr. Donato is able to identify any potential problem areas, which could lead to pain down the road, as well as biomechanical impairments that are currently causing discomfort. Such dysfunction may seem unrelated to your chief complaint of musculoskeletal pain, but improper mechanics often contribute to pain, even in other parts of the body.
Based on the FMS or SFMA findings and your unique issue, Dr. Donato will perform hands-on treatment, such as chiropractic or Active Release Techniques (ART)® , and/or prescribe specific sequencing of foam rolling, stretching, mobility, and corrective exercises.
Learn more about Active Release Techniques (ART)® and the conditions it treats.
The Functional Movement Screen (FMS)
For both the casual exerciser looking to avoid an injury and the competitive athlete wanting to maximize performance, it is important to use proper biomechanics.
Even though you are performing a recreational activity or sport, you may be limited in your basic movement. This leads to the use of compensatory movements to achieve or maintain the level of performance needed for the activity. Inefficient movement leads to poor biomechanics, limiting gains in performance and reducing the body’s ability to remain adaptable and durable, and over time, can result in sports injuries or musculoskeletal pain.
The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is a screening technique used to evaluate seven fundamental movement patterns in individuals with no current pain complaint or musculoskeletal injury. The FMS is not intended to diagnose orthopedic problems but rather to demonstrate opportunities for improved movement and reduce the risk of injury. The screen places an individual in specific positions where movement deficits become noticeable if appropriate stability and mobility are not used.
Dr. Donato offers FMS for $95 to people who are starting a new exercise regimen and who play school/college-level sports. The FMS provides specific, individualized information that Dr. Donato then uses to formulate a personalized “recipe” — including customized recommendations on stretches and strength-building — that the individual can take home or to their coach/trainer.
Want to avoid potential injuries common to your sport or activity? Contact Dr. Donato today to learn more about the Functional Movement Screen.
Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA)
If you are suffering from musculoskeletal pain or discomfort, treat the cause, not just the symptoms. Poor movement –> compensation –> pain.
The Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) is a diagnostic system used to assess and classify movement patterns in order to formulate a more focused treatment plan and customized corrective exercise routines.
The SFMA helps “debug” the body, getting to the root of what is causing faulty movement patterns and therefore your pain. It not only addresses painful joint(s) but the biomechanics of the entire body. By correcting dysfunctional movement patterns throughout the body, you are more likely to prevent future pain or injuries.
What makes the SFMA unique from many other diagnostic systems is its use of movement to diagnose the source of pain instead of simply treating the area where pain occurs. It examines how the body moves as a whole, assesses the quality of that movement, and then looks for potential compensations that can lead to pain.
For example, a complaint of tight hamstrings in a normal toe-touch maneuver can actually be from lack of motion somewhere else in that movement pattern. The perceived “tightness” is actually from overuse. Re-establishing that lost movement and improving the movement pattern can take the workload off the hamstrings and reduce the risk of injury.
Dr. Donato offers the comprehensive SFMA for $175. He uses the results of this assessment to recommend a personalized approach to treatment, which can be shared with a personal trainer, athletic coach, chiropractor, or orthopedist. This assessment also can be performed “virtually” via a telehealth visit; contact us to learn more.
Treat the root cause of your pain. Contact Dr. Donato today to learn more about the Selective Functional Movement Assessment.
“Dr. Donato recently performed a functional assessment of my movements. The assessment was extremely helpful as it helped identify my problematic areas or, as Keith described it, the “weak links” in the way I move. Dr. Donato has been using the results from the movement screen along with Active Release treatments and an at home corrective exercise prescription to help correct my problematic movement patterns and increase my mobility. I am extremely happy with the results thus far.”
– Shawn S.
