Functional movement screening: the use of fundamental movements as an assessment of function-part 2

Part 1 of this two-part series (presented in the June issue of IJSPT) provided an introduction to functional movement screening, as well as the history, background, and a summary of the evidence regarding the reliability of the Functional Movement Screen (FMS™). Part 1 presented three of the seven fundamental movement patterns that comprise the FMS™, and the specific ordinal grading system from 0-3, used in the their scoring. Specifics for scoring each test are presented. Part 2 of this series provides a review of the concepts associated with the analysis of fundamental movement as a screening system for functional movement competency. In addition, the four remaining movements of the FMS™, which complement those described in Part 1, will be presented (to complete the total of seven fundamental movements): Shoulder Mobility, the Active Straight Leg Raise, the Trunk Stability Push-up, and Rotary Stability. The final four patterns are described in detail, and the specifics for scoring each test are presented, as well as the proposed clinical implications for receiving a grade less than a perfect "3". The intent of this two part series is to present the concepts associated with screening of fundamental movements, whether it is the FMS™ system or a different system devised by another clinician. Such a fundamental screen of the movement system should be incorporated into pre-participation screening and return to sport testing in order to determine whether an athlete has the essential movements needed to participate in sports activities at a level of minimum competency. Part 2 concludes with a discussion of the evidence related to functional movement screening, myths related to the FMS™, the future of functional movement screening, and the concept of movement as a system.

Level of evidence: 5.