Functional Movement Screen (FMS): The Most Used Tool for Assessing Movement Patterns

What tool is mostly used in the movement screen?

The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is widely recognized and most commonly used as a standardized tool in the fitness and rehabilitation industries for assessing fundamental movement patterns.

Understanding Movement Screens

Movement screens are systematic assessments designed to evaluate an individual's fundamental movement patterns, identify asymmetries, limitations, and potential areas of dysfunction. They serve as a foundational step in creating personalized exercise programs, aiming to reduce injury risk, improve performance, and enhance overall physical well-being.

• Why Movement Screens Matter: Our daily lives and athletic endeavors demand a wide range of movements. Over time, poor posture, repetitive stress, and previous injuries can lead to compensations, muscle imbalances, and restricted mobility. Movement screens help uncover these issues before they manifest as pain or performance plateaus.
• Core Principles: The underlying principle is that efficient, pain-free movement is built upon a foundation of fundamental patterns. If these basic patterns are compromised, more complex movements are likely to be performed inefficiently or unsafely, increasing the risk of injury.

The Dominant Tool: Functional Movement Screen (FMS)

Developed by Gray Cook and Lee Burton, the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is a proprietary system that has become the most prevalent and standardized tool for evaluating movement competency. It is designed to identify limitations or asymmetries in seven fundamental movement patterns that are critical for quality of movement in both exercise and daily life.

• What is the FMS? The FMS is a screening tool, not a diagnostic one. It assesses movement quality rather than quantity (strength or endurance). Its primary goal is to identify an individual's greatest areas of movement deficiency to guide the implementation of corrective exercises.
• Components of the FMS: The screen consists of seven fundamental movement tests, each designed to challenge different aspects of mobility and stability:
  • Deep Squat: Assesses bilateral, symmetrical, and functional mobility of the hips, knees, and ankles, as well as thoracic spine extension and scapular stability.
  • Hurdle Step: Tests stride mechanics and dynamic stability, along with single-leg stance balance.
  • In-Line Lunge: Evaluates dynamic stability, hip and ankle mobility, and quadriceps flexibility.
  • Shoulder Mobility: Assesses bilateral shoulder range of motion, including internal and external rotation, and scapular stability.
  • Active Straight-Leg Raise: Measures active hamstring and gastroc-soleus flexibility while maintaining pelvic stability.
  • Trunk Stability Push-Up: Screens for core stability in an anterior-posterior plane, emphasizing reflexive core stabilization.
  • Rotary Stability: Assesses multi-planar core stability and reflexive stabilization.
• Scoring and Interpretation: Each of the seven tests is scored on a 0-3 scale:
  • 3: Performs the movement perfectly according to criteria.
  • 2: Performs the movement with some compensation.
  • 1: Unable to perform the movement.
  • 0: Experiences pain during any part of the movement. A composite score is calculated, and scores below a certain threshold (typically 14) or the presence of asymmetries (e.g., scoring 3 on one side and 1 on the other for the Hurdle Step) or pain (score of 0) indicate a need for corrective intervention.
• Corrective Exercise Strategy: The FMS is designed to directly inform corrective exercise programming. The lowest scores and painful movements are prioritized, following a structured approach to address mobility limitations before stability deficits, and foundational patterns before complex movements.

Beyond the FMS: Other Movement Assessment Approaches

While FMS is prominent, various other tools and methodologies contribute to a comprehensive understanding of movement.

• Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA): Often considered the diagnostic counterpart to the FMS, the SFMA is used when an individual presents with pain. It systematically breaks down painful movements into their component parts to identify the specific source of dysfunction (e.g., mobility restriction, motor control deficit).
• Overhead Squat Assessment (OHSA): A common and quick assessment used by many fitness professionals. It involves observing an individual perform a squat with arms overhead to identify common postural deviations and muscle imbalances across multiple joints.
• Gait Analysis: A more specialized assessment that analyzes an individual's walking or running pattern. It can identify subtle biomechanical inefficiencies that contribute to pain or performance issues, often employing motion capture technology.
• Clinical Observational Screens: Many physical therapists and chiropractors use their trained eye and clinical experience to observe patients performing various movements, identifying deviations based on anatomical and biomechanical knowledge. This often includes range of motion tests, muscle length tests, and specific orthopedic tests.

Why is the FMS So Widely Adopted?

The FMS's popularity stems from several key advantages that make it an attractive and practical tool for professionals.

• Standardization: It provides a consistent, objective framework for assessing movement, allowing for reliable comparisons over time and across different practitioners.
• Simplicity and Portability: The FMS requires minimal equipment and can be administered relatively quickly in various settings, from gyms to clinics.
• Predictive Value (with caveats): Research suggests that FMS scores, particularly low scores and asymmetries, can be correlated with an increased risk of injury in certain populations, especially athletes. However, it's not a perfect predictor and should be used as one piece of a larger assessment puzzle.
• Integration with Corrective Strategies: Its design directly links assessment findings to a clear path for intervention, making it highly actionable for trainers and therapists.

Limitations and Considerations

Despite its widespread use, it's crucial to understand the limitations of the FMS and movement screens in general.

• Not a Diagnostic Tool: The FMS identifies patterns of dysfunction, not specific medical diagnoses. A score of "0" (pain) necessitates referral to a healthcare professional for diagnosis.
• Context Matters: A movement screen provides a snapshot of fundamental movement. It doesn't fully assess sport-specific performance, strength, power, or endurance, which require additional, more specific assessments.
• Trainer Competency: The accuracy and utility of the FMS heavily rely on the assessor's training, experience, and ability to correctly observe and interpret the movements.
• Beyond the Screen: A movement screen is one component of a comprehensive client assessment, which should also include a detailed health history, lifestyle factors, goals, and other physical performance tests.

Conclusion: Integrating Movement Screens for Optimal Health

The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) stands out as the most widely used and recognized tool in the movement screening landscape. Its standardized approach provides fitness professionals and rehabilitation specialists with a valuable, systematic method to identify fundamental movement limitations and asymmetries. By understanding these underlying movement dysfunctions, practitioners can implement targeted corrective strategies, ultimately helping individuals move more efficiently, reduce injury risk, and enhance their overall physical capabilities. While powerful, the FMS is best utilized as part of a holistic assessment strategy, complementing other tests and clinical observations to create truly individualized and effective programs.