The FMS is a fairly new assessment method developed to identify risk of injury, support programme design in relation to corrective exercise, provide a systematic means to monitor progress and create a functional movement baseline[1]. When utilised to evaluate movement patterns and to make judgments on corrective exercise interventions it is suggested that the FMS provides a “momentary impression of general movement quality”[2], and has been demonstrated to positively assist identifying risk of injury[3]. Therefore, it identifies individuals who have established compensatory movement patterns within the kinetic chain and can be used as a baseline to implement corrective exercise programmes which can improve the initial FMS scores[4].
The FMS consists of seven different screens that assess different areas of the body. These are the deep squat, hurdle step, inline-lunge, shoulder mobility, active-straight leg-raise, trunk stability push-up and rotary stability. It also includes clearing tests (impingement clearing test, press up clearing test and posterior rocking clearing test), to identify if the client experiences any pain when performing certain movements. Each movement is scored out of 3 and then a total score is formed a the end out of 21. A score of 3 means that the individual was able to perform the movement, whereas a score of 2 means that the individual is able to complete the movement but does compensate in some way or other to achieve the fundamental movement. A score of 1 therefore means that the individual is unable to perform the movement. A total score of 14 or less means the individual is more likely to succumb to injury based on the dysfunctions identified[5].
The FMS allows a trainer to identify irregularities in a clients movement patterns and can be used as the basis for corrective exercise. Implementing this assessment method at the start of a programme may help to create a baseline for specific movements and avoid injury in the long-term. The FMS has also been used among the older adult population. It has been found that the FMS was a reliable assessment for individuals aged 50 or over and should be used in conjunction with other quantitative assessments for assessing functional abilities in older adults[6]. Furthermore, it is stated that the FMS is a feasible way of assessing functional limitations and asymmetries in the elderly population [7]. However, it is suggested that lower scores from the elderly population should be expected due to the FMS testing factors such as strength, balance, coordination and flexibility which all decline with age[6].
References:
[1] COOK, G et al., 2014. Functional Movement Screen: The Use of Fundamental Movements as an Assessment of Function – Part 1. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 9(3), 396-409
[2] FROST, D et al., 2012. Using the Functional Movement Screen to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Training. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 26(6), 1620-1630
[3] MINICK, K et al., 2010. Interrater Reliability of the Functional Movement Screen. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 24(2), 479-486
[4] BODDEN, J et al., 2015. The Effect of an Intervention Program on Functional Movement Screen Test Scores in Mixed Martial Arts Athletes. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 29(1), 219-225
[5] KIESEL, K et al., 2007. Can Serious Injury in Professional Football be Predicted by a Preseason Functional Movement Screen? North American Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 2(3), 147-158
[6] FAWCETT, M., 2014. Reliability of the Functional Movement Screen Scores for Older Adults. A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate College of Bowling Green State University [14/03/21]
[7] MITCHELL, U et al., 2016. Performance in the Functional Movement Screen in Older Active Adults. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 5(1), 119-125
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