Using the Selective Functional Movement Assessment for the Evaluation of Dancers’ Functional Limitations and Dysfunctions: A Critically Appraised Topic

Abstract

Does the use of SFMA improve overall evaluation of dancers by providing more information on a dancer's overall functional ability and limitations? Summary of Key Findings: The literature search discovered 12 studies and three books, in which four studies were included (two case reviews, one case report, and one original research study) based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Three of the studies provided clinical case studies utilizing the SFMA to improve the patient's dysfunctions, while one study examined the intra- and inter-rater reliability of the SFMA. In three studies, participants displayed less movement dysfunction. The authors from three of the studies agreed the SFMA was a valuable tool for clinicians to use during evaluations, as it provided a more holistic view of the patient, discovering dysfunctional movement patterns that may better identify the source of injury. Clinical Bottom Line: Low-quality evidence, defined as poorly designed case studies, case series and cohort studies, exist supporting improvement of overall evaluations when utilizing the SFMA. Although the studies were considered low-quality evidence, each included study displayed effective use of the SFMA as an overall evaluation that correctly identified dysfunctional movement patterns. Strength of Recommendation: Grade C evidence exists that the SFMA contributes to the functional evaluation used in dancers.

Lessons From Special Forces Operators for Elite Team Sports Training: How to Make the Whole Greater Than the Sum of the Parts

“…With the SFMA the therapist assesses posture, muscle balance, and movement patterns in order to identify relevant musculoskeletal dysfunction in a clinical population. It guides physiotherapists to dysfunctional movements not seen with more conventional examination procedures (Goshtigian and Swanson, 2016 ; Fauntroy et al, 2019 ).…”

“…If a Top Tier test does not pass the “Functional Non-painful” grade, then that specific movement must go to a breakout pattern to find the root cause of dysfunction. The “true cause of the dysfunction” can be a tissue extensibility dysfunction, a joint mobility dysfunction, or a stability/motor control issue (Goshtigian and Swanson, 2016 ; Fauntroy et al, 2019 ).…”

Are we really “screening” movement? The role of assessing movement quality in exercise settings

“…It is with this methodology that new movement-assessment tools such as the Selective Functional Movement Assessment have been developed, with the primary goal of helping health care professionals choose the best possible rehabilitative and therapeutic exercises for their clients. 19 …”

Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) Reliability and Proposal of Its Use in Sports

“…Recently, a paradigm shift to expand on the biomedical model and include other factors or regions that may contribute to the individuals' complaints has occurred [4]. Regional interdependence (RI) refers to the concept that seemingly unrelated impairments in a remote anatomical region may contribute to, or be associated with, the patient's primary complaint [5].…”

“…The SFMA has also been used to evaluate athletes in various sports such as soccer, weightlifting, running and baseball [19][20][21]. In particular, Fauntroy and colleagues analyzed whether the SFMA can be used as a tool to identify the dysfunctions and functional limits of dancers, showing that it contributes to their global functional evaluation [4].…”