What is functional movement?
At Backs Etc, we define functional movement as the ability to move the body with efficient and pain-free muscle function and joint control. This is necessary for activities of daily life, as well as in sport and athletics. Many people who have been sedentary for a period of time decide to throw themselves into a fitness goal such as running a marathon or a weight-loss target, without proper preparation and conditioning. The poor movement patterning, and lack of attention to core stability and strength, often lead to injury or niggling aches and pains. We call this robbing health to pay fitness rather than progressing to long-term improvements in health and strength.
We like to use the analogy of someone who wants to write a novel or a symphony. Before undertaking such a task, a writer would need to learn spelling, punctuation and grammar, and a composer would have to be proficient with notes, scales and harmony.
Similarly, before we undertake any physical activity, be it playing a game of rugby or carrying a bag of groceries, we need to ensure that all our joints, muscles and even brains are ready and able to perform the demands placed on them. Unfortunately the stresses and strains of modern life, and a history of injuries detract from our movement literacy, making most adults unable to do basic things such as a full squat, sitting comfortably on the floor or breathing abdominally. We look to help you recover these abilities and so decrease the risk of injury and pain while improving athletic performance.