Whether you are trying to start a fitness journey or an athlete prepping for a big event, you need to get a physical assessment. This will show you what areas you need to improve on and give you an idea of where you are health-wise.
There are different tests that can be done to target various areas of your body and actions to figure out the best solutions for you. One of these essentials is the movement screen.
What is a Movement Screen?
There are actually two main types of movement screening that you can get.
The first is the functional movement screen (FMS), which is meant to test your movement patterns for assessment to figure out any limitations in stability and mobility. By identifying these weaknesses and limits, a physiotherapist can identify what asymmetries might increase your likelihood to sustain injury. From there, they can give you ways to conduct fundamental movement patterns that are more akin to your range.
The FMS test is done by doing a series of standardised tests putting the body in extreme positions that will really highlight any weaknesses. This test is also helpful for figuring out any chance of developing a musculoskeletal disorder.
Alternatively, there is also the selective functional movement assessment (SFMA) test. This essentially has the same goal, except it’s the one to look into if you are experiencing any pain. It can reveal or provide insight into why there may be pain present. Through another series of tests, your physiotherapist should be able to break down movement patterns that are causing pain or stress on your body.
The SFMA test is meant to not only determine the exact points where the discomfort is stemming from but to figure out what is causing the pain.
What Benefits Will It Provide?
For those using it as an initial test, a movement screen can give you a good picture of your current ability. It gives you details that can inform what kind of program or training you can get into so that you can hit your goals while minimising the risk of getting injured.
It’s also a good option for those already undergoing a specific training regimen and find that they are stuck on a plateau. This can reveal what limitations may be getting in the way of your improvement. It also helps prevent injury as you aim to increase your level of training.
For fit individuals that are unable to figure out what is causing them chronic pain, this can identify any movement patterns that may actually be the cause or at the very least aggravate the problem.
Lastly, a movement screen can be most beneficial to high-intensity individuals and competitive athletes. As you continue to stress your body and aim to achieve new heights of performance, you will need to address any existing problems you have and prevent new ones from developing. A screen is not only needed for corrective training but also to improve future efforts.
Conclusion
Being able to get a comprehensive screen can improve your performance and well-being. You can easily get a screening done with some affordable physiotherapy, so it’s definitely not out of reach as a starting point. If you pinpoint your weak areas and move better, you will feel much better both immediately and in the long run.
Make sure you can prevent injury and improve your performance. Invigor Health fixes your pain and makes your body future-proof. Book with us now for reliable physiotherapy in Bondi Junction.
