FM I: Functional Mobilization I (Nov 14-16, 2025)

FM I: Functional Mobilization I is organized by The Institute of Physical Art, Inc. (IPA) and will be held from Nov 14 - 16, 2025 at American Career College, Ontario, Ontario, California, United States of America.

Description:
IPA has led the profession since 1978 in the understanding and implementation of myofascial and soft tissue mobilization for treatment of human structure and function.  FMI, (formerly FO I) was the first biomechanical soft tissue mobilization (STM) course offered to the PT profession. In FMI, the participant personally experiences the dynamic changes in his or her structure and function as well as facilitates changes in a lab partner during supervised lab sessions.  Master clinician instructors guide the participants in:

• An understanding of the dynamic Functional Manual Therapy® clinical reasoning system
• Comprehensive discussion of the three pillars of FMT:  Mechanical Capacity, Neuromuscular Function, and Motor Control
• Observation of posture and dynamic movement assessment
• Three Functional Tests to be used before and after each intervention
• End feel assessment and interpretation
• Localization of mechanical myofascial and soft tissue dysfunctions
• Specific Functional Mobilization™ techniques which combine soft tissue and joint mobilization with active or resisted patient movements and PNF. With direct progressions into specific exercise training.

After taking FMI, the skills and techniques learned will directly impact your clinical practice by empowering you to create immediate changes in the function of the human body with three dimensional and localized manual therapy interventions.  The immediate clinical impact of FMI stems from the supervised lab sessions in which the participants observe the correlation between the mechanical capacity of the soft tissue system and posture and functional movements.  The concept of the human body as an interconnected and dynamic system permeates the instruction and lab practice sessions.  Emphasis is placed on your skill development for both observation and manual treatment.

Objectives:

• Apply the clinical reasoning system of Functional Manual Therapy® to the assessment and treatment of the human system
• Define the relevance between treating towards “normal” versus “efficient”
• Develop skills to identify efficient and inefficient structure and function through observation, palpation, and three IPA functional tests
• Correlate subjective and objective findings to soft tissue dysfunctions
• Develop layer palpation skills to assist in specifying the exact dysfunctional structures
• Perform seven specific functional soft tissue mobilization techniques as an integrated component of the FMT system
• Acquire the knowledge necessary to design and implement an appropriate home exercise program
• Discuss the current literature related to myofascial and soft tissue mobilization.