Functional Range Conditioning®

Last fall I found myself sitting on the floor listening to Dr. Andreo Spina lecture on Bioflow, and mobility, and the many other principles of his Functional Range Conditioning® platform.

I am always excited to hear great minds speak and to learn more methods to add to my treatment arsenal. And FRC® definitely gave me some additional treatment and rehab ammunition.

But what is FRC®?

Functional Range Conditoning® is a system of looking at the ranges of motion of the body in relation to what they should be. as compared to what they are currently. It goes further into joint health via the training principles. Its main tenant is mobility training: training a joint not only to access its full mobility (active range of motion) potential but then to do it safely and skillfully, and efficiently.

To help further understand FRC® it helps to fully understand the terms they use so often:

• Flexibility: the PASSIVE range of motion a joint possesses (or other body tissue ie muscle).

• Mobility: the ACTIVE range of motion a joint can access in movement. The amount of USEABLE movement a joint possesses.

• The difference between a joint's flexibility and mobility can be referred to as the joints MOVEMENT POTENTIAL. Meaning that there is still potential in that joint for more mobility and therefore more movement.

• FRC® therapy or training is designed to target the MOVEMENT POTENTIAL and turn the potential into actualized mobility for each individual. It aims to improve the efficiency, capacity, and quality of your movement.

• Joints/ cells of the body respond to force. Use it or lose it folks. If you do not implement active mobility in your training and demand that your joints work better, they won't. Simple as that.

By improving mobility you set yourself up for better joint resiliency, movement capacity, musculoskeletal health longevity, and reduced risk of injury or painful joint dysfunction.

How does this affect my treatment session?

I incorporate FRC® principles in both my treatment sessions and rehab assignments since taking this course. I find it easy to incorporate within treatment as it lends itself well to manual therapy and is an extension of joint mobilizations. It takes the passive and makes it active and the results speak for themselves. Simultaneously it is easy to assign as homework for rehab because the movements can be broken down simply and are easy to remember. Again, once seeing the results patients are eager to continue at home to further the movement gains.

Any questions with respect to FRC® or other treatments, please never hesitate to ask. Just click the link and use the contact function at the bottom of the home page!