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Discover posture, postural dysfunction, and movement rules. Learn effects of length/tension, reciprocal inhibition, joint dyskinesis, anterior pelvic tilt, and rounded shoulders.

Lesson 22: Introduction to Movement Assessment and Analysis

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I have almost completed my CPT certification and am half-way through the Human Movement certification to inform my massage practice. The different modalities of reading, watching audiovisual materials, and attending live or recorded webinars have been important to my learning style and for review.

Brookbush Institute has the most detailed, specific and effective tools for online learning for movement and/or bodywork professionals. I love the combination of the videos as well as the text available online.

I recently completed the CPT course. It was demanding yet practical. I would highly recommend it for anyone wanting an education about human movement.

I have my personal trainer certificate through here and am almost finished my human movement specialist certification. Overall, the education that Brookbush has packaged together for clinicians and trainers is invaluable. I am a physio assistant so coming from more of a rehab background I appreciate that this education has been beneficial both as a trainer and in a rehab setting. I love that I have been able to do all learning at my own pace and able to work around my schedule. Thank you for setting up this platform! Highly recommend :)

I have been a massage therapist for 10 yrs and I feel like all the “pieces” I’ve learned throughout the yrs have been put into place and can see the full picture. I am also a member to tons of great content since I love to learn! I plan to get my CPT through them as well.

I have been following Brent Brookbush for nearly a decade- back when I was a personal Trainer and now as a Physical Therapist. BBI is an incredible resource for any movement nerds and corrective exercise specialists! The information is thorough with multiple real world applications. I am looking forward to an in-person Manual Therapist course the second they do one a little bit closer to Virginia ;)

I have taken both the Human Movement Specialist and Certified Personal Trainer certificate programs and have found the value in understanding the how and ways the body moves and functions and from evidence, non-biased, outcome, conceptual, theoretical, and practical approach to helping my clients/patients look better, feel better, and move better.

Over the last years I've returned time and again to Brookbush Institute for stellar coursework as I've worked toward a Human Movement Specialist certification. (I'm currently ACE CPT, and in training with Anatomy Trains for Structural Integration Manual Therapy.) Every Brookbush Institute module is fantastic and each one includes detailed informational videos, written descriptions of how to-do, and, more importantly, why to-do!

I am a 70 yr old chiropractor and no other healthcare provider was able to come up with an exercise protocol particular to my structural and balances and muscle deficits and keep me in the game. And as for continuing education on human skeletal movement, the website is phenomenal full of great exercises for particular mechanical dysfunction.

The H.M.S. is the most valuable certificate I have earned and was a fraction of the the cost of my others. Define the best bang for your buck!

Brookbush is the most efficient Personal Training Certification I have ever come across. All the lessons are well thought out and very straight to the point.

I am getting my Master's degree in Kinesiology, and I would like to say that I have benefited greatly from the rich, comprehensive, well-documented scientific content of Brookbush Institute that links theory to practical applications. Proudly I've got my CPT certificate, and I am on my way to get my HMS certificate.

Having courses count towards different certifications makes it so users can transition seamlessly from one certification to another. In my case, going from earning the BI CPT to earning the BI HMS was an easy decision and I am proud to have earned both certifications. I have also had the pleasure of going to a Live HMS workshop that was well taught by Instructor Boettcher and that was excellent to see how the methods and techniques are implemented.



I have been a member of BBI for years and every course I have taken has been incredibly informative. I learn more from these courses than I do at local CEU courses for my PTA license. I also earned my CPT and HMS certifications through the platform. It was so convenient and the content was top notch! Forever member.

We learn principles in academia, we learn cool new modalities via whatever specialty certification, but BBI really concentrates on the nuances of passive treatment and they do a fantastic job. The format in which BBI instructs soft tissue specialists (DPTs, Chiros, ATs) like myself feels like almost like an apprenticeship. You get a thoroughly detailed explanation of the “why’s”, and a visual comprehension of how to apply. Personally, I believe application is where the good and the great are distinguished.

Brookbush has been incredibly helpful since I was in massage school and now as I’m in my career! I run my own practice and it gives me the resources I need to not only improve what I already know, but also help me navigate better, more efficient ways of treatment.

Totally loving the convenience and affordability of this program with my crazy lifestyle! I feel like I am getting a quality education without a massive cost! My favorite part is the videos I can watch in the courses. I learn so much better that way. Once I really spent more time on the site, I figured out how to maneuver around a lot better! I enjoy the sense of humor, as well as the easy explanation, and short tests. And if I am really tired, I can have the computer read me the lessons. 😁

Challenging concepts are explained in very understandable terms without dumbing down the material, and I find this program to be superior in quality to other personal training programs.

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Human Movement Specialist

Integrated Manual Therapist

This course introduces terms and concepts related to movement assessment, movement analysis, motor control, movement impairment, and postural dysfunction. This course is a prerequisite for future courses discussing various assessments, corrective exercises, and manual therapy, including mobility techniques, activation techniques, integration, and neuromuscular re-education techniques. Special consideration is given to the Brookbush Institute’s preferred "top tier" movement assessment, the Overhead Squat Assessment (OHSA).

Ideal arthro- and osteokinematic motion maintained by optimal myofascial activity and length, as a result of accurate sensation, integration, and activation of the nervous system, both statically and dynamically.

A hypothesis introduced by Shirley A. Sahrmann that “stiffness in one muscle group or joint will cause compensatory movement at adjoining joints that are controlled by muscles and soft tissues that exhibit less stiffness”. In essence, your body will follow the path of least resistance, and/or move around motion that results in pain.

Additional terms defined in this course include postural dysfunction, movement impairment, dysfunctional movement patterns, neuromuscular efficiency, length-tension relationships, reciprocal inhibition, synergistic dominance, joint dyskinesis, relative flexibility, compensation patterns, and optimal flexibility. A practical example is presented in this course, in which these terms are applied to the assessment and analysis of an anterior pelvic tilt. Further, this example is related to the potential decrease in strength or sports performance and increased risk of musculoskeletal injury. 

Additionally, “rules” for the analysis of human movement are described to aid movement professionals in the assessment of movement quality. Examples include:

 All systems (muscular, fascial, nervous, and skeletal) contribute to every motion.

 Every muscle produces an equal amount of force at both proximal and distal attachments.

Sports medicine professionals (personal trainers, fitness instructors, physical therapists, massage therapists, chiropractors, occupational therapists, athletic trainers, etc.) must develop the ability to perform a movement assessment to develop optimal exercise programs and therapeutic (rehabilitation) interventions. Further, this course is essential knowledge for future courses discussing additional movement screens (e.g. Overhead Squat Assessment, Dynamic Postural Assessment, Functional Movement Screen, L.E.F.T. Test), altered motor function (e.g. motor control, dyskinesis, movement impairment syndromes), signs of dysfunction and the risk of injury (e.g. the effect of pain on normal movement, musculoskeletal injury and correlated signs - knee valgus and future ACL rupture) and sports performance (e.g. optimal motion, neuromuscular efficiency, strength, power, and agility).

For more advanced courses on movement assessment check out:

Overhead Squat Assessment: Signs of Dysfunction

Overhead Squat Assessment: Sign Clusters and Compensation Patterns

An anterior and lateral view of the skeletal system

Course Description: Introduction to Human Movement Assessment  and Analysis 

Introduction to Human Movement Assessment and Analysis

Brookbush Insitute Introduction to Human Movement Assessment and Analysis Study Guide

Study Guide: Introduction to Human Movement Assessment  and Analysis 

In this video, we define several terms and foundational concepts necessary for the analysis of movement quality (movement assessment). This includes ideal posture, postural dysfunction, neuromuscular efficiency, length-tension relationships, reciprocal inhibition, synergistic dominance, joint dyskinesis, relative flexibility, compensation patterns, and optimal flexibility. This is foundational knowledge for all movement professionals, including personal trainers, physical therapists, athletic trainers, massage therapists, chiropractors, occupational therapists, athletic trainers, etc.

 Ideal arthro- and osteo-kinematics maintained by optimal myofascial activity and length, as a result of accurate sensation, integration, and activation by the nervous system - both statically and dynamically.

Postural Dysfunction (a.k.a. Movement Impairment): 

The absence of ideal posture, as a result of maladaptation by one or multiple tissues within the human movement system.

The ability of the neuromuscular system to allow agonists, antagonists, stabilizers, and neutralizers to work synergistically to produce, reduce, and dynamically stabilize the entire kinetic chain in all three planes." (NASM.com)

 There is an optimal length at which a muscle can produce optimal force for a given movement pattern. Optimal length/tension relationships ensure optimal muscular force production, optimal intermuscular coordination, and efficient arthrokinematics (joint movement).

 A neuromuscular reflex that results in a decrease of muscular activity when the muscular activity of the functional antagonist increases. For example, an overactive psoas will decrease gluteus maximus activity.

 An increase in synergistic muscle activity due to a weak or inhibited prime mover. For example, the synergistic dominance of the hamstrings during hip extension in individuals who have weak or inhibited glutes.

A hypothesis introduced by Shirley A. Sahrmann that “stiffness in one muscle group or joint will cause compensatory movement at adjoining joints that are controlled by muscles and soft tissues that exhibit less stiffness”. In essence, your body will follow the path of least resistance.

 A movement pattern that has been adopted to compensate for a dysfunction in the human movement system. For example, tightness in the calves may cause the knees to bow inward and the torso to lean forward excessively during a squat.

The normal amount of extensibility of all soft tissues, in all planes, about a joint.

 Video Lecture: Human Movement Science Concepts

In this video, we identify a few “rules” of human movement, that may aid in the analysis of dysfunction. Examples are given to apply these concepts to daily activities and sports motions.

All systems contribute to every movement: Muscular, skeletal, neural, and fascia.

Every structure (muscle) that crosses a joint will affect joint motion.

Corollary to Rule #2: Every structure that crosses a joint will affect or is affected by all movement, and will play a role in postural dysfunction.”

Every joint motion is relative. That is one bone moves relative to the other.

Every muscle produces an equal amount of force at both proximal and distal attachments.

Every inhibited prime mover will result in synergistic 

A muscle cannot possess two opposing qualities. A muscle can be either short or long and may additionally be either overactive or under-active.

For example, a muscle may be short/over-active, but cannot be over-active/under-active.

 Video Lecture: Rules of Human Movement Science

No one can see muscle activity or length, but everyone can see motion (e.g. joint actions). Joint actions can then be used to infer muscle length and activity, and potentially the behavior of other structures (joint, fascia, nerves). For example, you cannot see "tight hip flexors," but you can see excessive hip flexion.

Understanding movement impairment starts with analyzing the most commonly seen compensatory pattern for each body segment. We start by examining the altered joint position and the effect that has on relative muscle lengths.



5 Steps to Analyzing Signs Observed During the 

Know what good posture looks like ("Ideal Position" versus "Common Signs").

Identify the excessive joint action that results in the sign of dysfunction (For example "Feet Flatten = Ankle Eversion")

List muscles responsible for that joint action ("short" muscles).

List the muscles responsible for the opposing joint action ("long" muscles).

It is important to create an organized method of determining which muscles are long, and which are short (e.g. the table below). Initially, it may be necessary to review functional anatomy when building these tables. Repetition will lead to memorization of the muscles responsible for each joint action, quicker assessment, and given enough time and practice, you will notice patterns. These patterns will look very similar to the predictive models of postural dysfunction discussed in the articles - 

Generally, muscles associated with the observed joint action are 

Anterior Pelvic Tilt = Hip Flexion & Excessive Lordosis

The joint action correlated with arms fall is "shoulder internal rotation". This is "tricky." The actual joint action occurring during "arms fall" is shoulder extension; however, this joint action is occuring from 180° of shoulder flexion. The muscles that would "pull" the arms down from this position are the shoulder internal rotators. 

Use the "5 Steps for Analyzing Dysfunction" to fill in the table below. 

Arms Fall: Answer Key

Video Lecture and Activity: Analyzing Dysfunction

Carolyn Richardson, Paul Hodges, Julie Hides. Therapeutic Exercise for Lumbo Pelvic Stabilization – A Motor Control Approach for the Treatment and Prevention of Low Back Pain: 2nd Edition (c) Elsevier Limited, 2004

John V. Basmajian, Carlo J. De Luca. Muscles Alive: Their Function Revealed by ElectroMyography. 1985

Bibliography

Questions, comments, and criticisms are welcomed and encouraged

Lesson 22: Introduction to Movement Assessment and Analysis

Related Courses:

Course Description: Introduction to Human Movement Assessment and Analysis

Study Guide: Introduction to Human Movement Assessment and Analysis

Video Lecture: Human Movement Science Concepts

Video Lecture: Rules of Human Movement Science

Video Lecture and Activity: Analyzing Dysfunction
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Bibliography

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Lesson 22: Introduction to Movement Assessment and Analysis

Related Courses:

Course Description: Introduction to Human Movement Assessment and Analysis

Study Guide: Introduction to Human Movement Assessment and Analysis

Video Lecture: Human Movement Science Concepts

Video Lecture: Rules of Human Movement Science

Video Lecture and Activity: Analyzing Dysfunction1 Sub Section

Bibliography

Related Courses:

Comments

Guest

Video Lecture and Activity: Analyzing Dysfunction
1 Sub Section