The Movement Baseline | Eugene Oregon
The smarter way to understand your body before we treat anything.
If you’ve been stretching, foam rolling, or chasing the same tight spot for months but it always comes back, you’re not alone. Most people try to fix their pain based on where it shows up. But that’s not how the body works.
The Movement Baseline is our starting point. It’s a 30-minute movement screen that helps us figure out exactly where your body is compensating, limited, or out of balance.
We use the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) as the tool — but what we deliver is clarity, not just a score.
This is how we design massage therapy in Eugene that leads to real change, not just temporary relief.
What Is The Movement Baseline?
The Movement Baseline is a structured, full-body movement assessment built on seven foundational tests. These movements tell us how well your body can stabilize, control motion, and move without strain.
We look at:
Your ability to rotate, balance, and bend without compensation
Left-to-right symmetry
Hidden movement restrictions that are holding you back
Functional range of motion — not just flexibility
This is not a workout. It’s not a pass/fail test. It’s a smart way to see how your body actually functions so we can treat the root of the problem.
What You Can Expect From This Session
A short check-in about how your body has been feeling
Seven tested movement patterns performed fully clothed
Immediate feedback and explanation of your results
A clear, actionable next step — whether that’s targeted massage, mobility work, or a custom care plan
You’ll walk away with more than just insight. You’ll know what to do next.
Why We Need More Movement Screens in Massage Therapy
Traditional massage treats symptoms.
The Movement Baseline helps us treat causes.
When you’re always tight in the same area, it’s usually because something else is not doing its job. Tight shoulders? Often driven by poor thoracic mobility. Low back tension? Could be coming from your hips or ankles. With this screen, we stop guessing and start treating the right patterns.
That’s why clients at Movement Improvement Massage see better results in fewer sessions.
Who Benefits From The Movement Baseline
We recommend this session for:
New clients in Eugene looking for personalized massage care
Athletes returning from injury or dealing with recurring tension
Desk workers with shoulder or low back tightness
Manual laborers with asymmetrical strain
Anyone entering our 4-session Movement Reset Program
People who have “tried everything” but still feel off
Want to Try Screening Yourself at Home?
Here are 3 quick tests you can do right now:
1. Deep Squat Test
Stand with feet shoulder-width apart. Keep your arms straight overhead. Try to squat as low as you can while keeping your heels on the ground and arms vertical.
→ If your heels lift, knees collapse inward, or arms drop, you may have hip, ankle, or thoracic restrictions.
2. Shoulder Reach Test
Reach one hand behind your back and the other over your shoulder to touch fingertips.
→ A large difference side to side can indicate mobility loss in your shoulder or thoracic spine.
3. Step and Balance
Step forward into a lunge and hold the bottom position. Watch your knee and torso alignment.
→ If your front knee wobbles or your balance shifts, you may be compensating through your hips or core.
If these feel hard, uneven, or just uncomfortable, your body is telling you something. The Movement Baseline is how we listen.
Why Movement Improvement Is the Best Place in Eugene for Movement Screens
Our massage therapists are trained to combine movement assessment with hands-on therapy. This isn’t a gym-based program or a rehab center model. It’s practical, outcome-focused care delivered by professionals who understand how the body works in the real world.
We use movement screening not to judge, but to guide. It helps us choose the right techniques, target the right areas, and give you the best possible chance of lasting relief.
We’ve helped people all over Eugene and Lane County move better, feel stronger, and finally understand why their body has been stuck.