Human Movement Sphere™

What is the Human Movement Sphere™?

The Human Movement Sphere™ provides a conceptual way to view a human being’s given capacity to move. When a person has full access to their body’s capacity to move, they can move within the entirety of the sphere. This spherical capacity around our body moves with us as we move. The perimeter of the sphere represents the outer boundary by which we can express movement. The inner territory allows for a myriad of movement forms possible of a body as it moves towards the center of and throughout the sphere. Imagine static positions like a thoracic bridge, a middle split or a resting deep squat. Think of about the motions needed in activities like swimming, tennis, or dance. Lastly, contemplate the natural active range of motion we are given and can express as children in our shoulders, hips, and spine among other joints.

The Human Movement Sphere™ is three dimensional and it accounts for the capacity of our joints to move through their individual available three dimensional range of motion independently as well as collectively in a variety of combinations to produce all the positions or motions your body is capable of performing.

What are the qualities of the Human Movement Sphere™?

The Human Movement Sphere™ is made up of three qualities. The first quality is size. The size of the sphere is an expression of mobility and stability or mostability, the term coined by Gary Gray, PT to describe the interdependent relationship between mobility and stability. Therefore, those who can express greater mobility and stability or mostability, have the most ability to express movement and, therefore, have a greater capacity to move. The second quality is symmetry. Symmetry refers to the ability to express movement throughout all regions of the movement sphere. Someone with adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) of the left shoulder, for example, is limited in their ability to express movement through the upper left quadrant of the movement sphere. The final quality is that of density. The density of one’s movement sphere is measured by their ability to express strength, power, and stamina throughout their movement sphere. An advanced yoga practitioner may be able to express movement in a majority of their movement sphere when the execution of movement is slow, methodical with their own body weight. What happens when you add speed, force, load, and/or endurance to the equation? An advanced gymnast is an example of someone who has a movement sphere with a high degree of density. Those with greater density along with adequate size and symmetry are those who can demonstrate a greater degree of resiliency when facing movement related adversity.

Why is the Human Movement Sphere™ important?

The Human Movement Sphere™ offers you an opportunity to visualize the territory you theoretically have to move within. Once you are introduced to the territory you have to move within, the more empowered you will be to move throughout that territory. People who have the full capacity to move within this sphere and who have high levels of control over that movement have an advantage over those who do not in many forms of exercise, sport and especially as it relates to movement longevity. Awareness of the Human Movement Sphere™ provides you with an objective way to establish a baseline of our movement capacity. From there, you can make a choice on whether to work toward restoring the territory you have lost access to or not.

How do I work with the concept of the Human Movement Sphere™?

I use the Human Movement Sphere™ to empower and motivate clients to become the steward’s of their Movement Health™. I empower them by helping them develop awareness of what is possible for their body with regards to movement. I motivate them by pointing out the advantages of restoring, maintaining, or expanding the territory they can access within their own Human Movement Sphere™.

Additionally, all of the movement services without exception involve a movement assessment. If I see you for Movement Therapy because you have a pain in your hip or knee, I assess your movement capacity. If I see you for MoveFit™ Personal Training because you want to build a greater degree of fitness with your body’s movement system and increase the potential you to move well throughout the entirety of your life, I assess your movement capacity. If I see you for Massage Therapy because you’re experiencing tension and stiffness in your neck and shoulders, I assess your movement capacity. When I assess your movement capacity, I am assessing your Human Movement Sphere™.