Re: Gray Cook, the Functional Movement Screen & KCA

[Guest guest]

I have done some work with regard to the Functional Movement Screen,

it was brought in as a general personal training tool to us at my

former place of work. I by no means claim to be an expert, but I had

my concerns over the generalisation of the test and further exercise

prescription. (hence my former place of work, " know your station " ,

I believe the phrase is!) The best thing that I found was that it was a

great marketing tool, a good package that was easy to sell to clients

who wanted that little bit extra.

Possibly like many of the members here, I want to know more and

wondered if I could be pointed in a direction that will allow me to

find altenative methods of assessment from which I can develop a

better understanding.

[if you are interested in more scientific testing, one helpful book

is MacDougall DJ, Wenger HA & Green HJ (1982) Eds: Physiological

Testing of the Elite Athlete, Canadian Assoc of Sports Sciences. I have

also summarised other strength-oriented tests in " Supertraining " (e.g.,

Chs 6 and 8.7) and wrote an article on testing in different sports

(see our archives). What specifically do you wish to test for? Mel Siff]

Simon Keyte

Worcester

England

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Kline Dennis wrote:

> I'm ready to review the KCA kinetic chain assessment " protocol " from

> Mike and the NASM. It was nice to see an organized review of

> material as well as a way to to denote it.

Mel Siff:

> The patterns of action and interaction of the different components of

> any kinetic chain change so much in space and time with every compound,

> multiarticular movement that any cookie-cutter approaches to " kinetic

> chain " assessment cannot be even approximately correct. This type of

> oversimplification, though it may look highly organised and accurate, is

> of little value in scientific " functional " analysis of human movement.

> Dave Zipko DC (Oxford, Ohio)and I developed a system resembling this

> in 1992 and found it very useful and worked like dogs on methods to

> improve body function. I liked our approach. He did adjustments and

> worked on joint mobility and I worked on soft tissue.

>

> M. Alter's book on flexibility said it well when 10% of immobility is due

> to tightnes is the muscle and something like 70% is due to the joint itself

> and fascia.

Mel Siff:

> This completely ignores the fact that decreased range of motion

( " flexibility " ).

> possibly the major component in many people, is due to neuromuscular

> issues and not due to mechanical stiffness or decreased length of the various

> connective tissues. This comment by Alter needs serious re-evaluation.

> The KCA did not mention any methods of attacking and changing the inequalities

> and imbalances. I guess its in the next video. However, the sucking in and

the

> TvA use irritated me to be honest. The overhead squat as well as the one leg

> squat assessments were with a stick. Personally, I have always needed

> about 135lb on the bar just to get to a full squat... To be a bit of a

> pain I will say research in this field should not be solely on skeletal

> models. Remember skeletons do not win gold medals, people do!

>

> Future direction--- I see the next step of this is a perfect motion of

> an elite athlete performing movements plotted with dartfish or some

> other software against another individuals movements from all planes at

> once. The time saved and information learned could almost be immediate.

>

> The cook book approach to human movement is far from being available. If

> it was, it would be a very profittable adventure. Everyone is different

> and adapts at different rates to training and protocols. I wish everyone

> good luck with these adventures and keep the commentaries rolling

>

> I have not seen the 7 point check yet, but I imagine its similar?

>

> Dennis Kline

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Andy Valantine wrote:

> Dr. Siff, I recently read your post in the archives concerning the

7-point

> Functional Movement Screen.

> You did a basic critique of the claims on the website. I also

recently

> purchased the corresponding

> videos put out by Reebok and presented by Gray Cook. I was curious

> whether or not you have seen

> these videos or listened to any of his presentations at any

conferences.

> He makes many interesting claims that seem to be unsubstantiated.

>

> Some of these include " re-setting motor patterns " through a series

of so

> called special " movement

> reeducation exercises " . These " exercises " seem to be merely active

and

> static stretches. He also

> assesses these movement patterns and labels them as a " mobility or

> stability problems " . From this

> he then assigns the appropriate " exercises " to solve the problem.

>

> It seems as though he tries to fit everything into a nicely packaged box

> and make solving athletes

> " motor problems " as easy as... if " x " , then do " y " . Another proponent

> of muscular imbalance problems

> in healthy individuals possibly? As I recall no research was cited,

> merely just his personal opinion

> and clinical experiences.

>

> I am interested in hearing your outlook on this and any other

> Supertraining members' opinions.

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