Many of our therapists are certified in the Applied Functional Science technique, which seeks to better understand human body movement (how was the body made to function, and how does it actually function?). Developed by Gary Gray, the founder of the Gray Institute, Applied Functional Science links the scientific truths of how we move, think, and act with practical strategies to create better, more efficient environments for our daily, sport-specific activities. When it comes to injuries, the goal is to evaluate the source of the injury as opposed to the symptom—and in contrast, to break down a person’s natural movements and assess limitations to help prevent an injury before it happens.
We focus on function vs. injury.
That’s to say, the source of a knee injury might not be the knee itself. There’s a greater chance the knee injury is the result of how other areas of the body—such as the foot, hip and thoracic spine—interact with the knee during movement.
We consider all planes of functional movement vs. taking a one-dimensional approach.
Humans are multidimensional beings, and our natural movements reflect that. Our joints and muscles move in three planes of motion: sagittal (forward and back), frontal (side to side), and transverse (rotation). For example, when we run, as the right leg hits the ground, the joint and muscles move through all three planes of motion, accelerating and decelerating as needed.
We create the appropriate exercise for the individual vs. letting the exercise choose you.
Traditional strengthening exercises can be ineffective for specific people, based on various factors, such as age, activity level, previous medical history, and more. The functional approach evaluates the total athlete and incorporates flexibility, strength, balance, and cardiovascular in developing targeted exercises.
