Functional Movement Screen (FMS) Certification: Understanding, Assessment, and Professional Benefits

What is FMS certification?

The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) certification provides fitness and healthcare professionals with the standardized tools and knowledge to identify movement dysfunctions, asymmetries, and limitations in individuals, guiding the development of targeted corrective exercise strategies to enhance performance and mitigate injury risk.

Introduction to the Functional Movement Screen (FMS)

The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is a proprietary system designed to evaluate fundamental movement patterns in individuals. Developed by physical therapist Gray Cook and athletic trainer Lee Burton, the FMS is rooted in the principle that foundational movement quality is paramount for optimal physical performance and injury prevention. It operates on the premise that identifying and correcting movement inefficiencies before they lead to pain or injury is a proactive and essential step in any fitness or rehabilitation program. The FMS is not a diagnostic tool for pain, but rather a screening tool to highlight areas of potential dysfunction in healthy, active, and asymptomatic populations, or those cleared for exercise.

The FMS Certification Explained

The FMS certification is an educational credential for professionals in the health and fitness industries, including personal trainers, strength and conditioning coaches, physical therapists, chiropractors, and athletic trainers. It equips these professionals with the ability to accurately administer, score, and interpret the FMS assessment.

The certification signifies that an individual has demonstrated proficiency in:

• Understanding the philosophy and principles behind the FMS.
• Correctly performing and observing the seven FMS movements.
• Accurately scoring each movement pattern based on the established criteria.
• Interpreting the scores to identify movement limitations, asymmetries, and compensations.
• Developing basic corrective exercise strategies based on the FMS results, adhering to the "correct, then train" hierarchy.

Key Components of the FMS Assessment

The FMS assessment consists of seven fundamental movement patterns, each designed to challenge an individual's mobility and stability in various planes of motion. These movements are:

• Deep Squat: Assesses bilateral, symmetrical, and functional mobility of the hips, knees, and ankles, as well as thoracic spine extension and motor control.
• Hurdle Step: Evaluates hip and ankle mobility and stability, as well as single-leg stance stability and step mechanics.
• In-Line Lunge: Challenges ankle, knee, and hip mobility and stability, as well as dynamic stability and trunk control.
• Shoulder Mobility: Measures bilateral shoulder range of motion, assessing scapular stability and thoracic spine mobility.
• Active Straight-Leg Raise: Assesses active hamstring and gastrocnemius-soleus flexibility while maintaining pelvic stability.
• Trunk Stability Push-Up: Evaluates core stability in an anterior-posterior plane and the ability to stabilize the spine during an upper body movement.
• Rotary Stability: Assesses multi-planar trunk stability, neuromuscular coordination, and the ability to maintain proximal stability while performing a distal movement.

Each movement is scored on a 0-3 scale:

• 3: Performs the movement perfectly according to criteria.
• 2: Performs the movement with compensation or slight impairment.
• 1: Unable to perform the movement pattern.
• 0: Experiences pain during any part of the movement.

The total score helps identify the weakest links in an individual's movement chain, guiding the selection of appropriate corrective exercises.

Benefits of FMS Certification for Professionals

Obtaining FMS certification offers several advantages for fitness and healthcare professionals:

• Standardized Assessment Protocol: Provides a consistent, repeatable method for evaluating client movement, allowing for objective tracking of progress.
• Enhanced Client Understanding: Enables professionals to pinpoint specific movement limitations that may contribute to poor performance or increased injury risk.
• Targeted Program Design: Facilitates the creation of individualized exercise programs that prioritize correcting fundamental movement patterns before progressing to more complex or load-intensive exercises. This adheres to the FMS philosophy of "don't add strength to dysfunction."
• Injury Risk Mitigation: By identifying and addressing movement asymmetries and limitations, professionals can help clients reduce their susceptibility to musculoskeletal injuries.
• Increased Professional Credibility: Demonstrates a commitment to evidence-based practice and a deeper understanding of human movement, enhancing trust with clients and peers.
• Improved Communication: Provides a common language and framework for discussing movement quality with clients and other healthcare professionals.

The Certification Process

The FMS certification typically involves a multi-stage learning process:

• FMS Level 1: This foundational level focuses on the theoretical understanding and practical application of the FMS assessment. It covers the principles, the seven movement patterns, accurate scoring, and basic interpretation. This can be completed through online courses or in-person workshops. Successful completion usually requires passing a comprehensive exam.
• FMS Level 2 (Advanced): For those seeking deeper knowledge, Level 2 delves into advanced interpretation of FMS results, the "corrective exercise algorithm," and how to design specific corrective exercise progressions based on individual scores. It focuses on how to effectively apply the FMS within various training contexts.
• Recertification/Continuing Education: To maintain active certification status, professionals are typically required to complete continuing education units (CEUs) or retake an updated exam every few years. This ensures practitioners stay current with the latest research and best practices.

FMS: An Evidence-Based Approach?

The FMS system has garnered significant attention and has been the subject of numerous research studies. While some studies support its utility in identifying movement limitations and its correlation with injury risk in specific populations (e.g., athletes, military personnel), others have questioned its predictive validity or inter-rater reliability in certain contexts.

The FMS organization itself actively promotes research and continuously refines its methodology based on scientific findings. It is generally considered a valuable screening tool within a broader assessment battery, offering a snapshot of movement competency. It is crucial for professionals to integrate FMS findings with other assessments, client history, and specific goals, recognizing that it is one piece of a comprehensive puzzle in understanding human movement.

Integrating FMS into Practice

Certified professionals integrate FMS into their practice by:

• Initial Client Assessment: Using the FMS as a baseline to understand a new client's movement capabilities and identify potential areas of concern.
• Program Design: Structuring exercise programs to first address movement limitations identified by the FMS before progressing to strength, power, or sport-specific training.
• Monitoring Progress: Re-screening clients periodically to track improvements in movement quality as a result of corrective exercise interventions.
• Injury Prevention Strategies: Implementing FMS-guided corrective exercises to pre-emptively reduce the likelihood of injuries, particularly in athletic populations.
• Communication with Healthcare Providers: Using FMS scores to effectively communicate a client's movement status to physical therapists or physicians, fostering a collaborative approach to health and performance.

Conclusion

The FMS certification provides fitness and healthcare professionals with a structured, systematic approach to evaluating fundamental human movement. By mastering the FMS, practitioners gain the ability to identify critical movement patterns that may predispose individuals to injury or hinder performance. This knowledge empowers them to design more effective, individualized, and safer exercise programs, ultimately contributing to better client outcomes and a more holistic approach to health and fitness.