A systematic movement-based diagnostic system that identifies why you hurt — not just where — so treatment targets the real problem.
The Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) is a comprehensive, movement-based diagnostic system used by clinicians to systematically identify the root cause of pain and dysfunction — not just where a patient hurts, but why.
Developed by physical therapist Gray Cook and colleagues, the SFMA guides clinicians through a series of seven full-body movement patterns to classify whether dysfunction is due to a mobility problem (tight joint or muscle), a stability/motor control problem (poor movement coordination), or a combination of both.
This distinction is critical: treating a stability problem with mobility work — or vice versa — can actually make things worse. The SFMA ensures the right treatment is applied to the right problem.
Car accidents disrupt movement patterns throughout the entire body — not just the area that hurts. The SFMA gives Dr. Johnston a systematic way to find every link in the chain that's been affected.
Pain location rarely tells the whole story. The SFMA traces dysfunction upstream and downstream to find where the movement system actually broke down.
By classifying each movement as a mobility or stability problem, Dr. Johnston can choose precisely the right intervention — eliminating wasted treatment time.
Accidents affect the whole kinetic chain. The SFMA evaluates the cervical spine, thoracic spine, hips, shoulders, and more in a single systematic screen.
The SFMA provides a baseline at intake and clear benchmarks for reassessment — giving both patient and clinician objective evidence of recovery.
The SFMA's findings directly inform the corrective exercise and rehabilitation program — ensuring every exercise is targeted, appropriate, and purposeful.
By restoring not just pain-free movement but proper movement patterns, the SFMA-guided approach builds lasting resilience against re-injury.
The SFMA consists of seven top-tier movement tests — cervical patterns, upper extremity patterns, multi-segmental flexion, extension, rotation, single-leg stance, and an overhead squat pattern. Each is scored as functional and non-painful, functional and painful, dysfunctional and non-painful, or dysfunctional and painful. The scoring guides the clinician to the right follow-up breakouts.
The SFMA is a gentle movement assessment, not a provocative stress test. While some movements may produce discomfort in the context of an acute injury, the process is always adapted to the patient's current state and tolerance.
A standard chiropractic exam identifies where a patient is injured. The SFMA identifies how the patient moves and where the movement system has broken down — a deeper level of analysis that guides more targeted treatment and rehabilitation.
Dr. Johnston uses the SFMA to ensure your treatment targets the real cause of your pain — not just the symptoms. Book a same-day evaluation.
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