What is a Functional and Biomechanical Assessment?
The Functional & Biomechanical Assessment is a comprehensive and systematic approach, used at Boulder Therapeutics, to evaluate movement patterns and identify dysfunctional movements that may contribute to pain or injury.
The assessment is designed to assess an individual’s movement patterns in a structured way, helping to pinpoint the root causes of musculoskeletal pain or dysfunction, and to help you learn to move more efficiently.
For Athletes: Increase Athletic Performance
If you’re an athlete looking for an edge, learning to move more efficiently can dramatically improve performance. We’ll assess the causes of your imbalances and train you to unwind these patterns so you can get the most out of your trainings and GET RESULTS!
Already Have a Personal Trainer?
Think of a biomechanical assessment as the step before going to your trainer. Many of our clients already have trainers, and we teach them to move more efficiently. Once we help identify your specific imbalances, we work with your personal trainer or coach so you can train harder and avoid injuries.
Do you Get Injured Often?
Are you prone to injury and then re-injury somewhere else? If so, you’re probably strong but moving improperly. So over time, your imbalances show up as an injury. And once you recover from that injury, it’s not uncommon to have a different body part injured…which often stems from the same imbalance. We can help you move properly, understand your patterns and imbalances and give you corrective exercises to avoid injury.
Schedule a Functional Movement Assessment
2 Office Locations: Boulder & Superior, CO
Open Weekdays & Weekends
How we Perform our Movement Screen:
1. Functional Movement Analysis: The assessment begins with a series of movement tests that assess basic functional movements such as bending, squatting, and reaching. These tests are designed to reveal limitations, asymmetries, or abnormalities in movement patterns.
2. Breaking Down Movements: Once a dysfunctional movement pattern is identified, the practitioner breaks down the movement into its component parts to determine which specific movement(s) or joint(s) are contributing to the dysfunction.
3. Classifying Dysfunctions: Dysfunctions are categorized into different types, such as mobility (joint or tissue flexibility issues) or stability (motor control or strength and stability issues). This helps in targeting the treatment more precisely.
4. Corrective Exercises and Treatment: Based on the assessment, specific corrective exercises and treatments are prescribed to address the identified dysfunctions. These might include stretching, strengthening exercises, manual/body-work therapy, sports acupuncture/needling, or neuromuscular re-education.
5. Reassessment and Progression: The patient is regularly reassessed to monitor progress and adjust the treatment plan as needed. This ensures that the interventions are effective and that the patient is moving towards functional improvement.
Key Components of the Assessment
• Multi-segmental Tests: These are a series of movement tests used initially to assess fundamental movement patterns.
• Selective Segmental Assessments: These are more specific tests used to drill down into the details of any dysfunctional movements found during the multi-segmental tests.
• Movement Patterns Analyzed: Typical movement patterns assessed include cervical patterns, upper extremity patterns, flexion, extension, and rotation, balance, and overhead squats.
Benefits of The Functional & Biomechanical Assessment
• Holistic Approach: The assessment looks at the body as a whole, rather than focusing on a single joint or muscle. This helps in identifying how different parts of the body interact and contribute to overall movement and dysfunction.
• Targeted Treatment (cause vs source): By identifying the specific cause of a movement dysfunction, treatment can be more accurately targeted, potentially leading to faster and more effective rehabilitation.
• Prevention of Future Injuries: Addressing dysfunctional movement patterns not only helps in treating current pain but also in preventing future injuries by improving overall movement quality and efficiency.
Why we LOVE the Movement Screen
The Functional & Biomechanical Assessment is a valuable tool for healthcare providers working with patients suffering from musculoskeletal pain or dysfunction, allowing for a precise and targeted approach to both assessment and treatment. With this assessment, we can work more precisely to target the right areas with strength training or stretching to get you the best results FAST!
About the Authors:
Dr Christopher “Chappy” Chapleau, is a Human Movement-Biomechanical Specialist, Sports Acupuncturist, Integrative Manual Therapist, and Exercise Physiologist. Dr. Chappy has a doctorate in Acupuncture Medicine and has Degrees in Human Performance, Western Health Science, and Sports Acupuncture. He holds many certifications which include Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA I & II), Human Movement Specialist (HMS), Integrative Manual Therapist (IMT), and Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Acupuncture/Needling and works with Boulder Therapeutics in Boulder and Superior, Colorado.
David Abookire, LMT is the founder of Boulder Therapeutics, Inc, and has been treating athletes and injured clients since 1999. He is passionate about educating people on massage therapy, injury rehab, Acupuncture, injury prevention, sports performance and stretching. He and his team advise clients on the frequency of their care and when they may need to collaborate with other healthcare professionals.