Movement Competence: What Does That Even Mean?

Movement competence (or Movement Literacy) is defined as the development of sufficient skills to ensure successful performance in different physical activities. Often used in the world of sports and youth, it also applies to our everyday activities. For example, standing up from a chair or toilet, getting in/out of a car, moving our body from Point A to Point B (and the difference between the ground being even and dry vs uneven and icy).

In our course, Osteoporosis Management: An Introductory Course for Healthcare Professionals, Dr Frank Ciuba and I approach the starting point for individuals with low bone mass (osteopenia or osteoporosis), from an “optimal alignment position.” Patients start supine with hips and knees flexed and are educated on what optimal alignment feels like. Many need to be propped using pillows, towels, or blocks behind their heads, forearms, or between their knees to achieve “their optimal alignment.” Breathing and awareness play a huge role in activating core musculature to sustain this alignment when moving to a vertical position such as sitting or standing. In vertical, our weight-bearing forces and gravity should pass down through the skeleton to take advantage of bone-building benefits. We use dowel rods, broom handles, and walls to give feedback. Optimal alignment can and should be taught in a variety of positions: side-lying, prone, hands and knees, ½ kneeling as we move up the developmental chain.

Hip Hinging, a well-known concept by therapists, must be practiced and mastered for patients with low bone mass to reduce the risk of vertebral fractures. Activities that involve bending at the waist such as brushing teeth, making a bed, and putting dishes in the dishwasher all place the anterior portion of the vertebral bodies under pressure and increase fracture risk.

Advancing from static optimal alignment postures to dynamic optimal alignment is a whole different ballgame; akin to advancing from sitting in a car to driving a car. There are many moving parts - pun intended.

Just as in athletics, mastery comes from repetition. It is not enough to teach patients a safe movement pattern one time, hand them a sheet of paper with pictures, and expect them to be able to comply and gain competence. Reinforcing proper technique and helping them become aware of compensation strategies (hunching shoulders when lifting objects, overarching the back when reaching overhead, etc.) are critical if Movement Competency is to “stick.”

I like to think of movement competency as building a house. First, you need a firm foundation before putting up the walls and roof. Our patients require that foundation to be able to layer on more complicated patterns of movement.

Please join us for this one-day course on September 14th or November 2nd to learn more Osteoporosis-safe exercises, balance and gait activities, and additional ways to help your patients build a strong foundation for movement competence!

AUTHOR BIO:
Deb Gulbrandson, PT, DPT

Deb Gulbrandson, DPT has been a physical therapist for over 49 years with experience in acute care, home health, pediatrics, geriatrics, sports medicine, and consulting to business and industry. She owned a private practice for 27 years in the Chicago area specializing in orthopedics and Pilates. 5 years ago, Deb and her husband “semi-retired” to Evergreen, Colorado where she works part-time for a hospice and home-care agency, sees private patients as well as Pilates clients in her home studio and teaches Osteoporosis courses for Herman & Wallace. In her spare time, she skis and is busy checking off her Bucket List of visiting every national park in the country- currently 46 out of 63 and counting.

Deb is a graduate of Indiana University and a former NCAA athlete where she competed on the IU Gymnastics team. She has always been interested in movement and function and is grateful to combine her skills as a PT and Pilates instructor. She has been certified through Polestar Pilates since 2005, a Certified Osteoporosis Exercise Specialist through the Meeks Method since 2008, and a Certified Exercise Expert for the Aging Adult through the Geriatric Section of the APTA.