Administering the Functional Movement Screen

BY: Jonathan Noury SPTNYMC

Objectives

• Demonstrate proper way to administer FMS.• Identify common compensations and errors

by clients.• Understand how to score an FMS.• Look at research regarding inter/intra-rater

reliability with FMS and differences in body mechanics based on score.

Consistency is Key

• In any assessment or screening tool being consistent and standardized is important.

Things To Avoid

• Over instructing clients on each activity• Correcting a clients form or posture during the

screen• Giving the client greater than 3 attempts at

each activity.

Equipment and Set Up

• Dowel• Hurdle pipes• Hurdle cord• 2 X 6 plank

3: Upper torso is parallel with tibia or toward vertical. Femur below horizontal. Knees aligned over feet. Dowel aligned over feet.

2: Upper Torso is parallel with tibia toward vertical. Femur is below horizontal. Knees aligned over feet. Dowel aligned over feet. Heels are elevated

1: Tibia and upper torso not parallel. Femur is not below horizontal. Knees are not aligned over feet. Lumbar flexion noted.

3: Hips knees and ankles remain aligned in the sagittal plane. Minimal to no movement noted in lumbar spine. Dowel and hurdle remain parallel.

2: Alignment is lost between hips knees and ankles. Movement is noted in lumbar spine. Dowel and hurdle do not remain parallel.

1: Contact between foot and hurdle occurs. Loss of balance is noted

INLINE LUNGE

3: Dowel contact maintained. Dowel remains vertical. No torso movement noted. Dowel and feet remain in sagittal plane. Knee touches board behind heel of front foot.

2: Dowel contact NOT maintained. Dowel DOES NOT remains vertical. Movement noted in torso. Dowel and feet DO NOT remain in sagittal plane. Knee DOES NOT touches board behind heel of front foot.

1: Loss of balance noted.

3: Fists are within one hand length

2: Fists are within 1.5 hand lengths

1: Fists greater than 1.5 hand length apart.

3: vertical line of the malleolus resides between mid thigh and ASIS. The non-moving limb remains in neutral position.

2: Vertical line of the malleolus resides between mid-thigh and joint line. The non-moving limb remains in neutral position.

1: Vertical line of the malleolus resides below joint line. The non-moving limb remains in neutral.

3: The body lifts as one unit with no lag in the spine -Men perform a repetition with thumbs aligned with the top of the head. -Women perform repetition with thumbs aligned with chin.

2: The body lifts as one unit with no lag in the spine -Men perform repetition with thumbs aligned with chin-Women perform repetition with thumbs aligned with clavicle.

1. Unable to perform.

3: Performs correct unilateral repetition.

2: Performs correct diagonal repetition.

1: inability to perform diagonal repetition.

Research • Deydre et al, 2012- “The Functional Movement

Screen: A Reliability Study”– Intra-rater and inter-rater good to excellent.

• Butler, Plisky, 2010- “Biomechanical analysis of the different classifications of the Functional Movement Screen deep squat test”– Individuals who score differently exhibit differences in

mechanics and practitioners should look at changes in mobility and stability when looking at corrective exercises.

Summary • Standardization is key• Make sure to clear the movement before testing

the function.• Take the lowest score when testing unilaterally

and grade stringently.• If pain is felt with any activity refer out to Health

professional.• Inter/intra-rater reliability is good to excellent.• When looking at differences in deep squat

mechanics look at stability versus mobility.

References• Teyhen, D. S., Shaffer, S. W., Lorenson, C. L., Halfpap, J. P., Donofry, D. F.,

Walker, M. J., . . . Childs, J. D. (2012). The Functional Movement Screen: A Reliability Study. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 42(6), 530-540.

• Butler, R. J., Plisky, P. J., Southers, C., Scoma, C., & Kiesel, K. B. (2010). Biomechanical analysis of the different classifications of the Functional Movement Screen deep squat test. Sports Biomechanics, 9(4), 270-279.

• Cook, G. (2010). Movement: Functional movement systems: Screening, assessment, and corrective strategies. Aptos, CA: On Target Publications.