Function is a skill that most of us take for granted. Physical therapists are movement and function experts. We bridge the gap between health and fitness. Let me explain.

There are natural layers of movement. At the very base, there is our health. If we don't have our health, or if we have a disease, the other layers cannot be attained. The next layer is function. Function is built on health. If we are healthy, we can function. We can get up and down from a chair, walk, or bend. On top of function, we build fitness. Fitness is what most people think of when they think of exercise. Going to the gym and working out is a way to improve our fitness. Then on top of fitness is the final layer: skill and performance. This is the ability to perform any high-level sport or complex movement.

How do we measure or test these layers? Let's break it down. First, health can be measured at your annual physical exam. A physician will take your blood, take your vitals, and ask a few questions. But rarely does a physician test function or movement.

The next layer, function, is about your competency to move. Can you assume certain movement patterns and postures that you have developed in your first 2 years of life? Things like rolling, crawling, standing, or walking, we all learn and develop early in life. Most people think that they're all good with this layer.

How about fitness? How fast can you run a mile? How much can you squat? Those are simple ways to measure fitness, it's more about the capacity, your ability to move well with a load, volume, or resistance. How well can you move your body or move another thing?

And finally, there's skill. This is a complex blend of all the other layers. This is where movement specialization takes place and builds on fitness, function, and health. When we perform well in a sport, we move in complex ways, introducing speed and strength to movement to accomplish a goal.

The layers are connected. Health can be measured by vitals and blood work. Fitness can be measured by how strong you are or how fast you are. Skill can be measured by how well your score or time is in whatever sport you participate in. But what about function?

Like I said in the beginning, function is the space where physical therapists work. We can measure function easily. We test for posture and movement patterns and can reveal if your postures and patterns are good or dysfunctional. We can check the box that says you pass this layer, so your fitness and skill are good to go.

But most people think that we’re just for rehab or treating pain. If we look at the layers of movement, we can't have fitness or skill without function. So if you’re questioning your ability to perform at a high level in a sport or special skilled movement, consider checking the other layers of movement. Is your fitness cleared? Is your function cleared?

Think about your annual physical exam. It checks off your health, but doesn’t check off your function. Consider getting an evaluation from a physical therapist to check off that function box and see where you stack up.

Contact PAR5 Physical Therapy to find out more about the layers of movement and how we can help you move better, feel better, and play better.