Functional Movement Screen
The Functional Movement Screen, or FMS, is a way to assess motor control. The test involves seven specific joint assessments, developed by Cook et al. (1998). The results could ultimately reveal imbalances and symmetry deficiencies in movements of the body, and is used as a screening tool to identify athletes at risk of injury.
aim: to access movement patterns and identification of deficiencies that may increase the risk of injury.
equipment required:
procedure: The assessment involves the following seven specific joint tests. It takes about 15 minutes to complete all the tests. After a demonstration of the required technique, the participants have three attempts for each test in the event that a score of 3 was not attained on the initial or second trial. Asymmetries were noted when a participant attained a different score on one side of the body compared with the other.
The tests:
- Deep Squat
- Hurdle Step
- In-line Lunge
- Active Straight-leg Raise
- Trunk Stability Push-up
- Rotary Stability
- Shoulder Mobility
results: Each of the tests are graded on a 1-3 scale, with a highest possible combined total score of 21. Research shows that a score of less than 14 might indicate a risk of future injury.
comments: the FMS has been a part of the US sports combines, such as the ice-hockey pre-draft combine since 2013, and MLB combine since 2021 and the NFL Combine.
References
- Cook G, Burton L, Fields K, Kiesel K. The Functional Movement Screen. Danville, VA: Athletic Testing Services, Inc; 1998.
- Cook, G, Burton, L, and Hoogenboom, B. Pre-participation screening: The use of fundamental movements as an assessment of function—Part 1. North Am J Sports Phys Ther 1: 132–139, 2006.
- Cook, G, Burton, L, and Hoogenboom, B. Pre-participation screening: The use of fundamental movements as an assessment of function—Part 2. North Am J Sports Phys Ther 1: 132–139, 2006.
- Rowan CP, Kuropkat C, Gumieniak RJ, Gledhill N, Jamnik VK. Integration of the functional movement screen into the National Hockey League Combine. J Strength Cond Res. 2015 May;29(5):1163-71. - The results of the FMS were significantly correlated to various body composition measures, aerobic and anaerobic fitness, leg power, timing of recent workouts, and the presence of lingering injury at the time of the NHL Combine. (from the abstract)
- Teyhen DS, Shaffer SW, Lorenson CL, Halfpap JP, Donofry DF, Walker MJ, Dugan JL, Childs JD. The functional movement screen: A reliability study. JOSPT. 2012; 42:530-40.
Related Pages
- Ice hockey combine results
- About Sports Medicine
- Other Health Related Tests
- Health Tests for Athletes
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