Dr. Gary Gray has been credited with the following quote: “Truth does not change. It is our understanding of the truth that may change.”
What does the word/term “function” mean to you? In the Movement Industry, “function” is prevalent and may, in fact, be overly used. When it comes to movement and assessment, “function” is being highlighted, yet the real question is if it is really functional or not. Gray Institute® believes that this needs to be defined in order to be applied for prevention, performance, and rehabilitation.
Instead of basing the definition on theory or expert opinions, let’s simply take a look at science, at truth – what’s already been proven true. Why? For understanding. Then why? For application. And then why? For greater impact in the lives of our and your patients and clients.
Function can be defined and applied by taking a look at the Physical, Biological, and Behavioral Sciences. In fact, it is the convergence of said sciences where Applied Functional Science® originates.
Therefore, function is scientific, yet it is also individualized. Similar to our fingerprints, what is functional from one individual to the next may, more often than not, be different.
In the Physical Sciences – the wonderful world we live in – there are many truths/principles that create the context for function and guide our strategies for application. The primary ones include the following: Environment, Gravity & Ground Reaction Force, and Mass & Momentum.
In the Biological Sciences – the miracle of the human body – there are also many truths/principles that create the context for function and guide our strategies for application. The primary ones include the following: Motion, Reaction, Proprioceptors, Muscles, Joints, Task, Specificity, and Mobility / Stability.
In the Behavioral Sciences – the intricacies of human behavior – more truths/principles create the context for function and guide our strategies for application. The primary ones include the following: Encouragement, Empowerment, and Engagement.
Identifying the above truths/principles then allows us to further identify descriptors of what may make a movement and/or an assessment functional versus non-functional. This can be thin-sliced as follows:
- Environment – Natural (functional) vs. Unnatural (non-functional)
- Gravity & Ground Reaction Force – Used (functional) vs. Confused (non-functional)
- Mass & Momentum – Leveraged (functional) vs. Neglected (non-functional)
- Motion – 3-Dimensional (functional) vs. 1-Dimensional (non-functional)
- Reaction – Chain (functional) vs. Link (non-functional)
- Proprioceptors – Facilitated (functional) vs. Inhibited (non-functional)
- Muscles – Reactor (functional) vs. Actor (non-functional)
- Joints – Integrated (functional) vs. Isolated (non-functional)
- Task – Subconscious Reaction (functional) vs. Conscious Reaction (non-functional)
- Specificity – Transformation (functional) vs. Stagnation (non-functional)
- Mobility / Stability – Combined (functional) vs. Segregated (non-functional)
- Encouragement – Success (functional) vs. Failure (non-functional)
- Empowerment – External Locus of Control (functional) vs. Internal Locus of Control (non-functional)
- Engagement – Relevant (functional) vs. Irrelevant (non-functional)
Gray Institute® has organized these “slices” into the Functional Movement Spectrum. This, we think, is gold. This is science’s guide for application for the individual. For a full list of the above principles, download our Functional Movement Spectrum. It is our gift to you.
When you download the above, you will notice that there is a Gray institute® logo on the document identifying 3DMAPS® (3D Movement Analysis & Performance System). If you have not looked into this system for analysis and performance, we encourage you to do so.
3DMAPS® was created first by identifying all aspects of the principles of the Functional Movement Spectrum. The context of global human movement – applied to all truths/principles – then facilitated the movements for 3DMAPS®. It was not using movements that were “acceptable” and then hoping they would be deemed “functional.” It was using science to dictate the truly functional movements.
The more we can dive deeper into the Functional Movement Spectrum, the more we can dive deeper into the truths/principles, the more we can provide the context to what this looks like functionally for rehabilitation and performance, the more we can truly treat and train the individual based on what is both scientific and the best.
Is your interest ignited? We hope so. This series will revisit each of the above truths/principles, taking a closer look for understanding and application.
We are excited to deliver this series to you again, for greater impact in the lives of your patients and clients!