Difference Between FMS and SFMAMA

The FMS (Functional Movement Screen) and SFMA (Selective Functional Movement Assessment) both evaluate human movement, but they are designed for different people and different purposes.

FMS is used to screen individuals who are not currently experiencing pain. It evaluates seven fundamental movement patterns to identify limitations, asymmetries, and opportunities related to mobility, stability, and movement competency. The results help fitness, performance, and healthcare professionals make better decisions about exercise programming, corrective strategies, and when further assessment may be appropriate.

SFMA is a clinical assessment used by healthcare professionals for individuals who are experiencing pain. It uses a systematic movement-based process to identify why a movement is painful or dysfunctional. By breaking movement patterns into more specific components, the SFMA helps clinicians distinguish between mobility limitations and motor control problems and determine the appropriate next step in the clinical assessment.

The simplest distinction:
FMS = screen movement in individuals without pain.
SFMA = assess movement in individuals with pain.