the F.A.S.T Approach™

At its core, the F.A.S.T Approach™ provides a structured framework for rapidly and precisely addressing the root cause of a patient's movement limitations. This system moves beyond a symptom-based approach, focusing instead on targeted evaluation and treatment that streamlines the entire process.

Our understanding of human movement is key to recognizing why a system is needed to address a movement dysfunction. In this lesson, we'll explore the foundational principles of how we move, setting the stage for learning the F.A.S.T Approach™, a framework for diagnosing and treating movement dysfunction.

The movement system is a complex physiological network where the nervous system acts as the primary architect, coordinating sensory input and motor output to produce functional motion.

At its simplest, Neural Control of Movement is the process by which the central nervous system (CNS) interprets sensory information, formulates a plan, and sends electrical signals to muscles to produce a physical action. It is the foundation of the movement system and why the F.A.S.T Approach is so effective.

A movement dysfunction is defined as any impairment in the ability to effectively plan, execute, or regulate a motor task.

Understanding that pain is a protective signal rather than a damage meter is the first step in correcting movement dysfunctions.

The F.A.S.T Approach sets the system for evaluating and differentiating Movement Dysfunction.

We will use the original SOAP note and go beyond data collection to create a dynamic, useful tool.

Bob has shoulder pain - can you fix his shoulder pain in less than 3 visits? If you answered NO, the F.A.S.T Approach is for you.

Every movement dysfunction can be categorized in these 5 buckets.

A soft tissue dysfunction is an impairment or abnormal change in the function of soft tissues, such as muscles, tendons, ligament and organs. These dysfunctions can lead to pain, stiffness, and a reduced range of motion.

A peripheral nerve dysfunction will present with three specific signs. It is important not to miss these three signs.

When we suggest a systemic inflammatory process we are discussing a rheumatological phenomenon, an immune system deficiency.

Osteoarthritic change refers to the degenerative process at a single joint that involves the breakdown of the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones.

Mechanical joint dysfunction appears as a unilateral decrease of movement accompanied by increased muscle tone, muscle tightness, and muscle inhibition.

Bob has shoulder pain - You now know there are five movement dysfunction buckets Bob’s shoulder pain can fit into. Where will you go from here?

Differentiating a diagnosis before treatment is crucial because it ensures you address the root cause of a problem rather than just its symptoms. Without a clear diagnosis, treatment is a guessing game that can be ineffective, waste time, and potentially worsen the condition.

We can take what people say, and how they describe their story, to give us information about the differential.

We shoulder never miss the 3 specific neural signs. It is an easy place to begin our differential of a movement dysfunction.

We can use our skilled hands and feel the tissue for information that will guide our differential.

We will take what we learn from a manual muscle test, define the findings a bit further and use the findings to localize our differential. Yes, this is important.

We can actually use what we learn from active motion testing and compare it to what we learn from passive motion testing and glean valuable information for our differential. Find out how.

We will get to the end ranges of passive gross motion and use the end feel information to guide our differential. This is also very important.

Differentiating a movement dysfunction with precision and consistency on every visit is a skill that allows you to move beyond guessing and focus on the true cause of a patient's movement dysfunction.

This is how you differentiate Bob’s shoulder pain in no time.

We will continue the Case Study of Bob and his shoulder pain and we will differentiate our Subjective findings.

We will continue the Case Study of Bob and his shoulder pain and we will differentiate our Neural Sign findings.

We will continue the Case Study of Bob and his shoulder pain and we will differentiate our Palpation findings.

We will continue the Case Study of Bob and his shoulder pain and we will differentiate our Muscle Resistance findings.

We will continue the Case Study of Bob and his shoulder pain and we will differentiate our Active vs Passive ROM findings.

We will continue the Case Study of Bob and his shoulder pain and we will differentiate our End Feel findings.

Here is the differentiation for Bob’s shoulder pain.

The proper use of physical therapy is to restore function without creating new traumatic pathology. The goal is to reestablish normal stresses in order to restore normal structure and function. We can fix a mechanical joint dysfunction in 3 visits.

Facilitation of joint movement reestablishes the normal stresses at the articular level to restore normal function.

Facilitating normal joint motion is a manual technique used to restore the preferred path of a joint to fix a mechanical joint dysfunction.

Bob would like his shoulder pain fixed in less than three visits. How will you accomplish this for him?

Recovery Guidelines explain to the Client HOW they are getting better. This makes recovery easier and your job as a physical therapist easier too.

We will introduce why reviewing recovery guidelines is very important in resolving Bob’s shoulder pain.

This is the magic of the F.A.S.T Approach! Fix Movement dysfunctions in less than 3 visits.

Why we can evaluate, differentiate and treat in even 15 to 30 minutes.

Words and the definitions.

Take a deeper dive into the research.

How was the F.A.S.T Approach™ Course?

PDF of useful forms.