Gray Cook - Movement Functional Movement Systems: Screening, Assessment, Corrective Strategies

Movement
Functional Movement Systems: Screening, Assessment and Corrective Strategies

Gray Cook
MSPT, OCS, CSCS

with
Lee Burton, PhD, ATC, CSCS, Kyle Kiesel, PhD, PT, ATC, CSCS
Dr. Greg Rose & Milo F. Bryant

Foreword
Jon Torine

On Target Publications
Santa Cruz, California

Movement
Functional Movement Systems: Screening, Assessment and Corrective Strategies
Gray Cook

with
Dr. Lee Burton, Dr. Kyle Kiesel, Dr. Greg Rose & Milo F. Bryant

Foreword: Jon Torine

Cover photo: Aaron Stearrett
Interior photos: Paul Liggitt
Athlete models: Brandy Apple, Heidi Brigham, Paul Hylton, Wyle Maddox

Copyright 2010, E. Grayson Cook
ISBN: 978-1-931046-72-5

Also by Gray Cook
Athletic Body in Balance

The information contained herein is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment in any manner. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding any medical condition or before engaging in any physical fitness plan.

All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America using recycled paper. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever without written permission from the author or publisher, with the exception of the inclusion of brief quotations in articles or reviews.

First printing, July 2010
Second printing, September 2010

On Target Publications
P. O. Box 1335
Aptos, CA 95001 USA
(888) 466-9185, Fax (831) 466-9183
www.ontargetpublications.net

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Cook, Gray, 1965
Movement : functional movement systems : screening, assessment, and corrective strategies / Gray Cook, with Lee Burton, Kyle Kiesel, Greg Rose and Milo Bryant; foreword, Jon Torine.
p. ; cm.
Other title: Functional movement systems
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-931046-72-5
1. Movement disorders. 2. Human locomotion. I. Title. II. Title: Functional movement systems.
[DNLM: 1. Movement--physiology. 2. Exercise Therapy. 3. Motor Activity--physiology.
4.Physical Fitness--physiology. WE 103 C771m 2010]
RC376.5.C66 2010
616.83--dc22
2010015256

eBooks created by www.ebookconversion.com

I have always been a curious and driven person. This, combined with an obvious attention deficit disorder, has made for an interesting ride. Thankfully, Ive been blessed with a force in my life that counters many of my dysfunctions. This influence has green eyes, blond hair and cant even make the scales register 120 pounds, but nevertheless I find myself outmatched.

In our house, we call this force of nature Danielle.

She is much of the strength and balance behind this work.This one is for my wife. Thanks, D.

APPENDICES

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For articles, video, media, downloadable forms and regular updates to support this book, please visit www.movementbook.com.

FOREWORD

For 16 years, I have had the privilege of working as a strength and conditioning coach in the National Football League, the past 13 with the Indianapolis Colts. My passion for trying to maximize physical performance and increase durability based on science and practical application has formulated the basis of our system, which has led us to become harsh critics with a tough filter for programs. We have no margin for error, and do not have the luxury of trial and error when that may mean the difference in millions of dollars and in wins and losses.

Years ago, in the late 90s, Id heard about movement screening. The methodology fascinated me, leading me to study it, and watch and wait and wonder.

A year or two later I met Gray Cook, who put me through the Functional Movement Screen and pointed out my rotary stability pattern was, well... lacking. He taught me proper rolling, made some corrections and asked me to repeat the pattern. I got up and executed the rotary moves almost perfectly, and thats what put me over the top with the system. During the visit, he explained the neural aspects and the role of human motor development components in stark contrast with isolated joint and muscle thinking, and a big light flashed in my head: This system will work for us!

And so it did, and so it does. I use the Functional Movement Screen in my work of training professional football players, and you can use it for your work with hearty athletes, personal training clients and rehabilitation patients as well. Its that versatile, that effective and that appealing.

Gray has brilliantly taken complex neurological and anatomical physiology and broken it down into a simple, usable and practical system that can be applied in any setting. Grays method gives us a baseline and a system to check our work. Thats another key I learned from his labor and explorationshow important it is check to my own work. Thats huge; its an objective measure, one I just didnt have with the players before I started using the screen.

In our profession, its difficult to measure results. We look at power output in meters per second and watts, speed, strength and movement screens. We verify that players can lift respectable loads, that they have power, individual and position-specific body composition, anaerobic endurance, good movement capability and applied sport nutrition. We teach circadian rhythm and sleep patternsthe factors affecting the game are multitudinous. The movement screens outlined in the book you hold in your hands provides a new kind of measurements. These will tell you when youre on the right track, and will tell you when to make adjustments. In my mind, movement screening provides the platform for all our other measures.

Simply put, it works that way.

In team settings, the screen opens up lines of communication with the athletes at the center, and the strength and performance coaches working with the physical therapists, athletic trainers, chiropractors, medical doctors and other medical professionals. A medical and performance team is then focused on the athletes health, rehabilitation and performance, making each transition seamless whether post-operative, painful, dysfunctional or healthy and ready to train and play.

Coaches, trainers and rehab professionals can screen for pre-season physicals whether in school, athletics or the military, and then use the data as part of the return-to-play criteria. In sports, we have to keep the players on the field or courtmovement screening is our best tool for predicting injury risk before a player gets sidelined. In our training room, its used to identify mobility and stability issues and it guides the transition to increased levels of training. When movements arent clean, its a big red flag that gains our attention every time.

Screening establishes a movement baseline. If our pre-season screening uncovers pain, the player sees one of our medical pros, who then does a clinical evaluation. The system allows pain to split the decision process into clinical evaluation or simple corrective exercise based on the observed pattern dysfunction. The rehab specialist pinpoints the potential problem and clears it, thus reducing the risk of injury. Theres no question that the Functional Movement Screen is a serious biomarker of player durability.

Everything we do at the Indianapolis Colts is built on a Functional Movement Screen baseits the foundation of our program.

The fact is, full strength and power is not realized or used without movement efficiency. Being strong doesnt mean much without fluid, efficient movement; staying strong and stable while being bombarded is what players need in football. The screen has provided this clarity for me. I now have a huge appreciation for movement efficiencyfunctional and foundational movement. Understanding human motor development, as youll learn through your Functional Movement Systems study, clears up cloudy thinking, and healthy, powerful action follows.