The Functional Movement Screen and Its Scoring

In “Understanding the Functional Movement Screen (FMS): A Tool To Avoid Injuries,” Thomas Nuzum wrote (http://theraplus.org/understanding-functional-movement-screen-fms-tool-avoid-injuries/, 6 Aug 2014):

The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is a screening tool used to evaluate a person’s movement patterns and identify asymmetries, weaknesses, muscular and joint stiffness that contribute to injury. It is a screen not an in-depth evaluation. A blood pressure test is a screen that helps identify problems in your cardiovascular system that should be further investigated. The FMS is a movement screen to help identify areas that can become a problem resulting in pain or injury.

The FMS is seven exercise tests plus three clearing tests. A clearing test is a test used to rule out problems at a joint. In a clearing test, you move a joint through a full range and into positions that would provoke problems if one existed. The exercise tests are a deep squat, hurdle step, inline lunge, shoulder mobility, active straight leg raise, and rotary stability. The client receives a score of 0-4 on each test. The scores are totaled and left and right sides are compared.

What gets screened in the Functional Movement Screen? The deep squat screens ankle mobility, knee mobility, hip mobility, shoulder mobility, trunk strength among other things. The hurdle step screens hip abductor, extensor, flexor, and adductor strength, hip rotational control, trunk strength among other things. The inline lunge test screens ankle, knee, and hip mobility stressing one side at a time. The shoulder mobility test and impingement clearing test screens for shoulder internal and external range of motion, shoulder mobility, acromioclavicular injury, and rotator cuff impingement. The active straight leg raise screens hamstring and hip flexibility, trunk stability, and hip flexor strength among other things. The trunk stability push up screens upper body strength and trunk strength among other things. The spinal extension clearing test screens for lumbar spine dysfunction. The rotary stability test screens hip, spine, and shoulder rotational strength and control among other things.

In “Functional Movement Screen- 7 Screens and 3 Clearing Tests,” they write (http://www.improvementwarriorfitness.com/functional-movement-screen-7-screens-and-3-clearing-tests/, 1 Feb 2013):

1. Deep Squat Scoring
3- Upper torso is parallel with tibia (shin) or toward vertical
– Femur is below horizontal (hips below knees)
-Knees aligned over feet
-Dowel aligned over feet
2- Feet positioning on FMS kit
-Same criteria as 3
1- Tibia and upper torso are not parallel
-Femur is not below horizontal
-Knees and Dowel are not aligned over feet
0- Any pain while doing it

2. Hurdle Step Scoring
3- Hips, knees, and ankles remain aligned in sagittal plane
– Minimal to no movement is noted in lumbar spine
-Dowel and hurdle reamin 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 is made
– Loss of balance is noted
0- Any pain is felt during the test

3. In-Line Lunge Scoring
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 stay vertical
-Movement in torso
-Dowel and feet do not stay in sagittal plane
-Knee does not touch behind heel of front foot
1- Loss of balance noted
-Inability to complete movement pattern
0- Pain

4. Shoulder Mobility Scoring-
3- Fists within one hands length
2- Fists within 1.5 hands length
1- Fists are not within 1.5 fists length
0- Pain in screen or clearing test

5. Active Strait Leg Raise Scoring-
3- Vertical line of the malleolus (ankle bone) resides between mid-thigh and ASIS (hip bone)
-The non-moving limb remains neutral position
2- Vertical line of the malleolus resides between mid-thigh and joint line
-The non-moving limb remains neutral position
1- Vertical line of the malleolus resides below the joint line
-The non-moving limb remains neutral position
0- Pain

6. Trunk Stability Push Up Scoring
3-Men- Performed rep with thumbs aligned with temples
-Women- Performed rep with thumbs aligned with the chin
-the body lifts as a unit with no lag in the spine
2-Men- performed rep with thumbs aligned with chin
-Women- performed rep with thumbs aligned with clavicle
-body lifts as one unit with no lag in spine
1-Unable to perform rep as listed in #2
0- Pain

7. Rotary Stability Scoring-
3-Performs a correct unilateral (same side) repetition
-Unilateral limbs remain over the board
2- Performs a correct diagonal repetition
-The diagonal knee and elbow meet over the board
1- Inability to perform a diagonal rep.
0- Pain