Functional Movement Screen

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The Functional Movement Screen (Fms) is a valuable tool for identifying any imbalances that lead to Functional Movement Deficits.

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What Is The Objective Of A Functional Movement Screen?

The FMS was developed for healthcare providers as a tool to assess individuals with no musculoskeletal injury or pain using seven fundamental movement patterns. To improve the body’s movement, an individual executes the FMS movement patterns and each movement is evaluated according to the FMS criteria. The FMS then allows the health care providers to identify imbalances impacting an individual’s mobility and stability that may lead to injury or restrict them to carry out specific actions.

What Are The Benefits Of A Functional Movement Screen?

The functional movement screen provides various benefits, especially for athletes. These are:

Corrective Exercise System - Through training exercises, movements you find challenging to do can be corrected.
Injury Prevention - Identifying movement dysfunctions can help prevent injuries.
Pain Identification - The assessment determines body pains that need medical or physiological treatments.
Systematic Training Approach - The FMS uses a straightforward tool with clear criteria to help healthcare providers understand the physiological needs of individuals who may have movement dysfunctions.

Who should undergo a Functional Movement Screen?

Anyone who has concerns about their physical fitness can undergo a functional movement screen. This tool can be used on people regardless of age and skill set.

Who should not undergo a Functional Movement Screen?

The FMS is not beneficial for individuals with:

A history of injury - Some movement patterns may complicate or aggravate an existing injury.

Focused goals - The FMS is developed to measure the overall ability and quality of movements performed by an individual. It is used to determine factors that increase a person’s risk of getting an injury while doing specific tasks. It is not designed as a substitute for training exercises or programs, which focus on your health goals.

What is the importance of the seven fundamental movement patterns of a Functional Movement Screen?

The seven fundamental movement patterns enable healthcare providers to assess how an individual performs essential locomotor actions, manipulative tasks and stabilising movements. An individual is placed in exaggerated poses that make imbalances and weaknesses stand out when the action is not properly done. An exercise plan is then mapped out to correct the identified deficits with the goal of injury prevention.

What are the seven fundamental movement patterns of FMS?

The seven fundamental movement patterns of FMS are:

Deep Squat

The deep squat pattern tests the hips, knees and ankles in terms of their bilateral, symmetrical, functional mobility and stability. Likewise, the pattern puts the neuromuscular control and total body mechanics to the test. The deep squat pattern can identify:

Limitation in moving the ankles
Limitation in moving the upper torso and t-spine
Poor stability and control
Weak flexibility in the knees

Hurdle Step

The hurdle step pattern plays a crucial role in both locomotion and acceleration. This action tests the body’s stability and control involving the hips, knees and ankles as it does a single-leg stand. The hurdle step pattern can determine:

Imbalances in hip flexibility and stability
Limitations in single leg stability
Limitations in step leg mobility
Maximum ability and extension that the hips can bend

In-line Lunge

The in-line lunge pattern positions the body in a way that triggers stresses when it performs rotation, deceleration and lateral actions. To determine the challenges that affect the mobility of the hip, knee, ankle and foot, the movement pattern places the lower part of the body in a split-stance. While performing the split-stance, the upper body executes the alternate position, challenging the stability of the spine. The inline-lunge pattern shows:

Limited mobility in the ankle, knee, and hip
Limited mobility in the T-spine region
Weak vital stability

Shoulder Mobility

The shoulder mobility pattern shows the harmonious balance of the scapulothoracic region, thoracic spine and rib cage while performing mutual shoulder movements of the upper extremities. This movement pattern places the individual’s both arms in a reaching position to expose the following:

Limited shoulder mobility
Poor shoulder blade stability
Poor thoracic spine mobility and vital stability

Active Straight-Leg Raise

The active straight-leg raise pattern is used to assess the lumbar spine and pelvic girdle’s stability. It is vital in diagnosing Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP), which usually affects athletes with groin pain, pregnant women or after experiencing trauma. This movement pattern determines:

Asymmetry in the lower extremities
Poor hip flexion and extension mobility
Weak core and pelvic stability

Trunk Stability Push-up

The trunk stability push-up pattern is done by pushing the body up from the ground and holding the position straight without sagging. This pattern evaluates core strength and trunk stability. The trunk stability push-up pattern identifies:

Pain when the spine is extended
Poor core and trunk stability

Rotary Stability

The rotary stability places an individual in a quadruped position while extending one arm and the opposite leg simultaneously. This movement pattern tests the reflex stability of the pelvis, core and shoulder girdle when doing complex postures involving the upper and lower extremities. Simply put, it evaluates an individual’s ability to move the shoulders, core, spine and hips simultaneously in different positions while in a crawl position. The rotary stability uncovers:

Limited shoulder and hip flexion
Poor coordination and reflex stabilisation
Poor core and trunk stability
Spinal flexion discomfort or pain

Each functional movement pattern follows specific grading criteria in scoring the mobility and stability of these movement patterns. Once the functional assessment is completed, a report is presented with the cumulative scores. It will also highlight an individual’s musculoskeletal risks that may influence their ability to properly perform day-to-day tasks. The report is useful to formulate a corrective plan using exercises to improve an individual’s movement dysfunction as well as provide tips on how to avoid musculoskeletal injuries.

What is the scoring criteria used for functional movement patterns?

A simple grading criteria is used to score functional movement patterns. Each movement is graded based on these scoring:
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Three is given when the movement is done completely without any compromise based on the criteria.

Two is given when the movement is done with unsatisfactory execution and alternative motions to successfully achieve the pattern.

One is given when the movement is not executed at all despite using alternative motions.

Zero is given when the movement causes pain when performed.

How Can Fms Help In Physical Activities Or Sports?

The FMS can help identify risks that can lead to injuries and help ensure that an individual has a solid movement foundation to be able to perform complex actions or exercises.
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Health is for everyone

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