Functional Movement Screen (FMS)

Functional Movement Screen to identify movement deficiencies and injury risk.

unctional Movement Screen (FMS)

1. Definition

The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is a screening tool that evaluates fundamental movement patterns to identify muscle imbalances, mobility limitations, or stability issues that may lead to injuries. It is designed for coaches, physiotherapists, and health professionals to assess movement quality.

2. The 7 FMS Movement Tests

TestWhat it assesses
Deep SquatHip, knee, and ankle mobility; core stability.
Hurdle StepHip mobility and core stability during movement.
Inline LungeHip mobility, core stability, and balance.
Shoulder MobilityFlexibility and mobility of the shoulder joint.
Active Straight Leg RaiseHamstring flexibility and core stability.
Trunk Stability Push-UpCore stability and upper body strength.
Rotary StabilityLimb coordination and spine stability.

3. Scoring and Interpretation

Each test is scored on a scale of 0 to 3:

  • 3: Perfect technique, no compensations.
  • 2: Acceptable form, some visible compensations.
  • 1: Incorrect form or pain.

  • 0: Pain during the test execution (requires stop).

    Interpretation: Total max score is 21. A global score below 14 indicates potential injury risk and a need to improve motor patterns.

4. Use of FMS

  • Injury Prevention: Identifying weaknesses before they lead to injuries.
  • Performance Optimization: Customizing programs based on identified weaknesses.
  • Rehabilitation: Determining readiness for return to activity post-injury.

5. Advantages and Limitations

  • Advantages: Easy to administer, identifies imbalances early, applicable to all sports.
  • Limitations: Does not measure muscle strength/power directly, requires expertise to interpret, does not diagnose specific joint pain.

6. Recommendations

  • Regular Assessment: Ideally, re-test every 6 months to track progress.
  • Complement: Combine with strength, mobility, and endurance testing.
  • Planning: Use findings to integrate targeted mobility and stability exercises into training plans.

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