Functional Movement Screen

The idea behind conducting the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is quite simple. The human body has certain basic movements that allow it to function on a daily basis.  When the body is out of balance, it tends to compensate for this and asymmetries form.  For example, if you hurt your left knee, your body will naturally favor this knee by putting more weight on the right knee. This could affect other leg muscles as well as your back, shoulder and neck muscles. By protecting one
part of your body, other parts are at greater risk of injury. 
 
History of FMS
Two sports experts developed the system of the Functional Movement Screen – a master’s trained physical therapist named Gray Cook, MSPT, who is also a certified strength and conditioning specialist; and Lee Burton, PhD, a certified athletic trainer. They both saw the injuries caused by imbalances in the body or asymmetries between the right and left
sides of the body.

In their research, they identified how people compensate for these imbalances or use substitutions. In our example above, if a soccer player experiences pain when he or she kicks with the left leg, the player will substitute using the right leg if possible to avoid pain.
 
Cook and Burton developed a series of seven simple screens that will allow an experienced practitioner to evaluate an athlete’s functional movements, provide an objective score based on this evaluation, and recommend corrective exercises to improve function and lessen the likelihood of an injury as a result of body imbalances.
 
Using the score
The highest possible score is 3 for each of the seven screens, so a perfect score would be 21. When the evaluator notices an issue with the screen – such as an example of compensation, substitution or body asymmetry – a point will be taken off the total score.  This screen is just one part of the total evaluation and is used with other screens. The best result is
to identify and correct problems before an injury occurs on the field

The seven Functional Movement Screens
The seven screens provide data on the seven basic functional movements of the human body. These movements allow you to conduct your daily activities, as well as athletic movements. Because athletes are moving fast, landing in unnatural positions and using their bodies in strenuous ways, there is a higher likelihood of injury when the body is not moving in
perfect symmetry and the athlete is compensating for this imbalance.

The seven screens include the following:
Screen 1 Deep Squat
Screen 2 Hurdle Step
Screen 3 Inline Lunge
Screen 4 Shoulder Mobility
Screen 5 Active Straight Leg Raise
Screen 6 Trunk Stability Push-Up
Screen 7 Rotational Stability 
 
During the screens
Each of the screens replicates normal body movements we do every day. None of the screens should cause any
pain, other than that which might occur with a good stretch. During these screens, a dowel rod or a yard stick is often used to show the evaluator if any parts of the body are out of alignment. Each screen can be performed up to three times during the screening process. The screener will note if there is a particular issue with the left or right side or the upper or lower part of the body. The cause of an imbalance may simply be that a joint does not have as much flexion as the opposite
joint. Corrective exercises to stretch out the less-flexible joint can be prescribed to help correct the imbalance.

It is important to remember that the overall purpose of these screens is to identify problems with functional
movement that may result in injury on the field. Often athletes have outstanding performances on the field, despite their imbalances. Yet, a more outstanding performance simply shows that the athlete is more adept at compensating for the imbalance, but the risk of serious injury is still present.

After the screens
After completing seven screens, each athlete will receive his/her score.

• In many cases, athletes with a score of 16 or above may have a recommendation that no action be taken.

• Those scoring above 16 with asymmetries should have the asymmetries noted, and a recommendation
for a maintenance or improvement program may be warranted.

• If an athlete scores 15 or less, the athletic trainer and/or coach will be apprised of the athlete’s score.

• Failing the screen is noted with multiple asymmetries, or pain on any movement. Pain is an indication of
a broader issue, and those who experience pain are strongly urged to see a physician. 
 
If the school or team has appropriate staff to address the athlete’s imbalances, the FMS athletic trainers and coaches will work with the school’s own staff resources to provide corrective exercises for the athlete. If the school does not have staff available to address the imbalances, or if more serious issues are identified, the athlete will be referred to a physician specially trained in functional movement assessment and follow up at Methodist Sports Medicine / The Orthopedic Specialists for further evaluation. Depending on the outcome of this visit, the athlete may be referred for physical therapy
sessions or to Velocity Sports Performance for individualized sports performance training with a certified coach.

If further evaluation by a physician is required, most health insurance plans will cover this visit. However,
it is up to the parent, guardian or athlete to confirm coverage with the insurance company. Training with
a certified coach at Velocity Sports Performance will involve a fee, which is normally an accepted medical
expense for those with flexible medical spending accounts, when prescribed by a physician. 
If you need more information or want to schedule a Functional Movement Screen for yourself, another individual or a team, please contact Velocity Sports Performance at 317-848-JUMP (5867), or visit www.velocitysp.com/carmel. Click on programs.