Pain-Free Movement

Traditional anatomy and biomechanics have looked at human movement primarily through an isolated frame of reference. More specifically, single muscles acting on a lever system to produce motion. In this module, both Anthony and Kevin will describe how understanding functional anatomy and whole-body biomechanics is essential for the movement and manual practitioner to comprehend, and the profound results this understanding can have with any client, patient or athlete.

In an effort to simplify the understanding of human movement, traditional perspectives take stability and mobility and separate them into two completely independent entities. In actuality, stability and mobility never work in isolation. The nervous system is decidedly sophisticated and to comprehend how stability and mobility work together as an interdependent system, one must appreciate how the body gathers information, interprets it and then produces an appropriate response. This intricate process takes place via the sensory-motor system. In this module, follow Anthony as he elaborates on the power of the nervous system and dives deep into the principles behind a body-wide "software" system which is essential for understanding sensory-motor integration.

What does a successful corrective intervention look like to the client in pain and how can we understand and appreciate how they've defined it? A skilled practitioner recognizes how to promptly develop a working relationship with their clientele to understand and appreciate how pain has negatively impacted an individual's thoughts, feelings and beliefs regarding their movement. Join Kevin Murray and international speaker Bobby Cappuccio as they share their expertise on the two domains of relationship; the intrapersonal affiliation we have with ourselves and the interpersonal relationship we must learn how to develop with our clients.

What is pain? What purpose does it serve? How is it the exact same situation can be painful for one person and not another? Here's the truth: pain is highly complex. There is no "one size fits all" approach. And working with individuals in chronic pain demands a foundational understanding of the biological, psychological and social factors that influence and contribute to an individual's pain experience. In this module, Anthony will explain pain from a three-dimensional science-based perspective, moving far beyond the traditional lens of muscles and meridians into a vastly more robust and comprehensive analysis.

Written within each of our clients are particular events and circumstances that have influenced their quality of movement and overall function. With the Function First Approach, the assessment process is fundamental to uncovering what is behind each individual's unique movement profile. Because what's "functional" is always specific to the individual, determining which corrective exercises are best suited for a client's movement autonomy comes from the information gathered through the movement assessments. Come with Anthony as he maps the Function First Approach to movement assessments and lays the foundation to understanding and interpreting the results.

The Function First Approach is founded on the premise that true restoration and pain-free living lie in addressing the body as a whole. Yet, when it comes to exercise selection and program design, nothing should be left to chance. There must be an ultimate purpose and clear end in mind when selecting exercises and designing corrective programs. Ascending a client through their exercise program from the cognitive to autonomic phases of motor learning provides an optimal environment for clients to maximize their quality of movement. And being able to justify the biomechanical, neurological, physiological and psychological aspects of programming is what elevates a Pain-Free Movement Specialist into an elite category of movement expertise. Within this module, Anthony will expand on the science, principles and framework behind what makes the Function First Approach to corrective exercise programming so successful.