Selective Functional Movement Assessment

Discover Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA), a diagnostic tool healthcare professionals use to identify and address movement limitations and pain.

By Priya Singh on Aug 2, 2025.

Fact Checked by Ericka Pingol.

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What is a Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA)?

The Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) is a clinical diagnostic system developed by physical therapists Gray Cook and colleagues to evaluate movement dysfunctions in individuals experiencing musculoskeletal pain (Aghi et. al., 2023).

Unlike general screening tools like the functional movement screen, the SFMA is specifically designed for symptomatic patients, focusing on the root causes of pain rather than treating symptoms in isolation. It also aligns with the regional interdependence theory, which highlights how limitations in one region of the body can impact another.

This systematic assessment involves observing seven fundamental movement patterns such as cervical spine motion, shoulder movement, multi-segmental flexion and multi-segmental extension, rotation, single-leg stance, and a single-leg deadlift. Each pattern is analyzed for quality, pain response, and compensation strategies. Movements are categorized based on function and pain (e.g., functional/non-painful or non-functional/painful), helping clinicians distinguish between joint mobility restrictions (e.g., joint stiffness or joint mobility dysfunction), tissue extensibility dysfunction, and motor control or stability deficits.

Grounded in the principle of regional interdependence, the SFMA guides practitioners in identifying non-painful but dysfunctional patterns for further investigation. This enables targeted treatment plans that may include manual therapy, mobility work, and corrective exercises, leading to more precise, interventions-based strategies and improved patient outcomes. These outcomes are especially relevant for those recovering from injury or maintaining an active lifestyle.

The Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) is typically used by healthcare professionals to evaluate movement dysfunctions in scenarios such as injury rehabilitation, chronic pain management, athletic performance enhancement, and surgical recovery. It is also applied to improve movement quality in daily activities, with a focus on proper movement patterns and restoring pain free movement.

Selective Functional Movement Assessment Template

Selective Functional Movement Assessment PDF Template

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How to use this SFMA score sheet template?

The Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) tool is an excellent way to help evaluate a patient's movement patterns and identify potential musculoskeletal dysfunctions. To use this Selective Functional Movement Assessment template effectively, follow the steps outlined below:

Step 1: Get the template

Click "Download" to get the PDF copy of the SMFA on this page, or click "Use template" to edit it within the Carepatron platform before printing it.

Begin by recording the patient's name, age, gender, date of assessment, and chief complaint. This information will provide context for the assessment and help track the patient's progress over time.

Step 2: Conduct the SFMA assessment

Perform the SFMA assessment, observing the patient's movement through the seven fundamental patterns. Note any pain or dysfunction the patient experiences during these movements.

Step 3: Record the findings

Document the patient's performance for each movement pattern using the provided scoring system. The four possible scores are Functional Non-Painful (FN), Functional Painful (FP), Dysfunctional Non-Painful (DN), and Dysfunctional Painful (DP).

Accurate scoring is essential for identifying areas of concern and guiding the treatment plan, which may include manual therapy, stability training, and mobility-focused interventions.

Step 4: Interpret the results

Analyze the results of the SFMA assessment to identify any movement dysfunctions, limitations, or asymmetries contributing to the patient's chief complaint.

Step 5: Develop a treatment plan

Based on the identified dysfunctions, create a tailored treatment plan to address the root cause of the patient's movement limitations and alleviate pain. This plan may include targeted exercises, manual therapy, and other interventions to improve the patient's overall functional movement.

Scoring and interpretation

The Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) uses a standardized scoring system to help medical professionals diagnose movement dysfunctions. Each of the seven Top Tier tests is graded as Functional Non-Painful (FN), Functional Painful (FP), Dysfunctional Non-Painful (DN), or Dysfunctional Painful (DP).

If a test does not score FN, the clinician performs a breakout pattern to identify whether the root issue is due to a mobility restriction, such as tissue extensibility or joint dysfunction, or a stability/motor control deficit.

Benefits of free SFMA

Here are the benefits of using this SFMA template:

Standardized format

A free SFMA template provides a consistent and standardized format for evaluating patients' movement patterns. This uniformity helps ensure the assessment is conducted systematically and allows for easier comparison of results over time or between different practitioners.

Time-saving and efficient

A pre-designed SFMA template saves time by eliminating the need to create their assessment forms from scratch. With a ready-to-use template, you can quickly and efficiently complete the assessment, allowing them to spend more time focusing on patient care.

Easy to customize

Free SFMA templates are often easy to customize, allowing you to tailor the assessment form to their needs or preferences. This flexibility ensures practitioners can adapt the template to suit their practice and enhance its utility in their clinical setting.

Improved patient care

Using a free SFMA template ultimately improves patient care by enabling you to identify movement dysfunctions more effectively.

By leveraging the standardized and systematic approach provided by the template, you can develop targeted treatment plans to address the root causes of their patients' functional limitations, resulting in better overall outcomes.

Reference

Aghi, A., Salvagnini, D., Berton, G., Cecconi, M., Della Valle, E., Spera, R., Mambelli, M., Palermi, S., Neunhaeuserer, D., & Vecchiato, M. (2023). Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) reliability and proposal of its use in sports. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(3), 2032. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032032

Commonly asked questions

The SFMA measures a patient's movement patterns across seven fundamental movement patterns to identify functional limitations, asymmetries, or dysfunctions that may contribute to pain, discomfort, or reduced mobility. These movement patterns include cervical flexion, extension, and rotation; shoulder mobility; multi-segmental flexion and extension; multi-segmental rotation; single-leg stance; and overhead deep squat.

The purpose of the SFMA is to provide healthcare professionals with a comprehensive and systematic approach to evaluating a patient's movement patterns, allowing them to identify the root causes of movement dysfunctions, limitations, or asymmetries. By uncovering these underlying issues, practitioners can develop targeted treatment plans that address the source of the problem, leading to more effective and lasting results for the patient. The SFMA ultimately aims to improve a patient's functional movement, reduce pain, and enhance overall well-being.

To interpret SFMA results, review the patient's scores for each movement pattern (FN, FP, DN, DP). Identify patterns of dysfunction or pain, and determine if the issues are primarily mobility or stability-related. Consider the patient's chief complaint and medical history to prioritize relevant dysfunctions. Develop a targeted treatment plan based on the identified issues to address the root causes and alleviate pain. This comprehensive analysis helps healthcare professionals create effective treatment plans tailored to the patient's specific needs.