Applied Functional Science (AFS)

Applied Functional Science is a process for functional assessment, training, conditioning, rehabilitation, and injury prevention that is practical for any and all individuals regardless of age or ability. It is a unique practice that requires extensive education and training beyond the traditional education received by rehabilitation clinicians.  AFS trained physical therapists find the biomechanical faults and compensations to focus on the root causes instead of merely the symptoms. We are able to treat patients as a whole through the collaboration of the physical, biological, and behavioral sciences.

Physical: Functional mechanics of the joints and muscles as they respond to everyday activities.
Biological: 
Functional application of neuromuscular properties in everyday activities.
Behavioral:  Incorporating personal driving factors, motivations and goals for betterment in your individualized treatment plan.

What is the difference? Traditional Therapy treats the part and Function Physical Therapy treats the person.

Function Physical Therapy
  • Whole Body Focused
  • Source of pain and cause of pain are rarely the same
  • Focused on correcting the underlying cause of the injured joint or muscle
  • Manual treatments utilized to help facilitate normal functional mechanics
  • Therapeutic exercise individually developed based on patient-specific mechanics and affected functional tasks
  • Successful treatment evaluated by restoring pain free function lost due to injury
Traditional Therapy
  • Local Joint Focused
  • Focused on correcting the injured joint or muscle
  • Manual treatments to improve movement in the affected joint
  • Therapeutic exercise focused on the muscles around the affected joint
  • Successful treatment evaluated by reduction of pain and improved joint strength