What Is Functional Rehabilitation?

Functional rehabilitation is a structured approach to restoring movement, strength, and coordination after an injury, or when persistent pain is limiting what you can do. Rather than treating a symptom in isolation, functional rehab focuses on how the body moves as a whole, identifying the patterns and compensations that are contributing to pain or limiting recovery.

It is used for a wide range of presentations: recovering from a sports injury, returning to the gym after time off, managing a recurring strain from work or daily activity, or simply wanting to move better and avoid the same injury from happening again.

At Core Performance Chiropractic, functional rehab is built into how Dr. St. Coeur approaches care. Chiropractic adjustments address joint function and spinal alignment; the rehabilitation component ensures the body knows how to move well once those structures are restored.

How Dr. St. Coeur Approaches Functional Rehab

Dr. Andrew St. Coeur holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from Michigan State University and completed his Doctor of Chiropractic at National University of Health Sciences. He is also trained in the McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy as well as the Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) Level I, a movement-based diagnostic framework used to identify dysfunctional movement patterns and their underlying causes.

His approach combines chiropractic care, movement assessment, and corrective exercise. The goal is not just to reduce pain during the visit, but to improve how the body loads and moves so that the same problem does not keep recurring.

Techniques used in functional rehab at Core Performance include SFMA-guided movement assessment, soft tissue therapy and chiropractic adjustments, and corrective exercise with a home program tailored to each patient's movement pattern. 

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What to Expect at Your Functional Rehab Appointment

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Step 1: Movement Assessment

Your first visit begins with a thorough SFMA-based assessment of how you move, not just where it hurts, to identify the root cause of your pain.
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Step 2: Treatment

Treatment may include manual therapy, targeted adjustments, and guided corrective exercises tailored to your movement assessment findings.
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Step 3: Home Program and Follow-Up

Most patients receive a structured home exercise program and return for follow-up visits to track progress and advance their plan.

Who Functional Rehabilitation Can Help

Athletes and Active Individuals. Recovering from a sports injury or working through a strain that keeps coming back. Dr. St. Coeur's background in exercise science and SFMA training means your rehab plan is built around how you actually move, not a generic protocol.

Gym Returners and Weekend Warriors. Getting back to training after time off, or managing pain that flares up after activity. Functional rehab identifies the movement compensations behind those recurring niggles before they become a bigger problem.

Anyone Who Wants to Keep Moving. Whether it is keeping up with your kids, getting through a workday without pain, or staying on top of the activities you enjoy, functional rehab addresses the movement limitations that get in the way.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Functional Rehab

There is significant overlap in goals and methods, but functional rehab at Core Performance is delivered within a chiropractic framework. Dr. St. Coeur's approach integrates spinal and joint assessment with movement-based rehabilitation, rather than separating the two. Many patients find this combined approach more efficient than addressing each component separately.
No. Functional rehab is appropriate for anyone whose daily activities are being limited by pain or movement issues. Many patients who benefit most are not athletes; they are people who want to stay active, return to work comfortably, or avoid surgery.
This depends on the nature and duration of the problem. Many patients with straightforward presentations see meaningful improvement within 4 to 8 sessions. Dr. St. Coeur will give you a realistic picture after your initial assessment.
Wear comfortable clothing that allows for movement. There is nothing specific to bring to your first appointment. Dr. St. Coeur will take a full history and walk you through the assessment process from the start.

Book Your Functional Rehab Assessment in Port Huron

Core Performance Chiropractic is located at 401 McMorran Blvd in Downtown Port Huron, serving patients from across St. Clair County including Marysville and Fort Gratiot. Dr. St. Coeur is accepting new patients.

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