The Essentials
Functional Movement Screen
As already explained in detail in our blog about clinical tests, the hypotheses gained during the anamnesis are analyzed using clinical reasoning and objectified through various diagnostic tests and assessments.
This is essential for evaluating your own methods and testing the therapeutic working hypothesis. But it is just as motivating for patients or clients to know they are on the right track and achieving the desired, hard-earned progress.
This way, issues or complaints are not just subjectively felt, but objectively measured and interpreted. Changes (whether improvements or setbacks) are clearly identified, documented, and highlighted through re-testing.
During one of our regular internal training sessions at BodyLab Osteopathy and Physiotherapy | Rehabilitation and Training in Zurich, we focused on the Functional Movement Screen (FMS).
The Functional Movement Screen (FMS)
The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is a relatively quick and easy way to measure active movement in terms of both quality and quantity.
One example of a qualitative movement characteristic is movement strength. This defines the extent to which muscle power is utilized within a movement.
The quality or range of motion describes the optimal spatial extension of a movement. It focuses entirely on the flow and path of a movement.
The FMS test is a test battery developed in the 90s for "high school athletes" by Gray Cook, a physical therapist and strength coach, alongside Lee Burton, an athletic coach. What was originally designed for athletes now serves as an objective tool for both coaches and physical therapists.
The core principle of the FMS states that movement quality must be improved first before quantity can be adjusted. If movement quality (strength, movement integrity) is not up to par, the deficit can lead to compensation in another area, potentially causing further injuries.
Furthermore, the FMS provides valuable insights into how each individual moves (quantity) and can open up further areas for detailed examination.
The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) Protocol
The test comprises seven distinct movements or movement sequences that reveal the interplay between mobility and stability.
These movements are:
Deep Squat (Overhead Squats)
Hurdle Step
In-line Lunge
Active Straight Leg Raise
Shoulder Mobility
Trunk Stability Push-up
Rotary Stability
Each of these movements provides the tester or therapist with crucial information about imbalances, muscular weaknesses, asymmetries, and limitations, ultimately painting a comprehensive picture of an individual's overall movement patterns.
The individual test movements are scored using a point system. The points are distributed as follows:
0 = Pain
1 = Unable to perform the movement
2 = The movement can be performed, but with compensation
3 = The movement can be performed perfectly.
If the requested movement or exercise cannot be performed due to pain, it is scored as a 0 and the test is invalid or cannot be evaluated (movements must be executed pain-free).
The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) in Physical Therapy
When we perform these tests on our patients or athletes at BodyLab, we focus primarily on the movement pattern and how it is executed.
In physical therapy, the focus is not primarily on scoring points, but on analyzing the overall movement pattern. It provides therapists with both objective and subjective cues regarding which areas need to be tested and examined even more specifically. This also guarantees and secures a highly targeted, objectively measurable course of therapy. By targeting weaknesses with both exercises and manual therapy, and then "re-testing," we can clearly see whether imbalances, weaknesses, asymmetries, and limitations are objectively improving. Additionally, we can observe whether pain levels are subjectively reduced and controlled.
It serves as a powerful "tool" to measure active movements that therapists cannot feel with their hands. This gives us, as well as our clients, objective statements and benchmarks showing where our clients can (continue to) improve or have already made progress with our help.
We are happy to refer you to the official Functional Movement Screen (FMS) website, where you can find more detailed information.
Whenever you need us, we are here to support you!
Your BodyLab Team, your go-to partner for rehabilitation and training
Osteopathy and Physiotherapy | Rehabilitation and Training
Zurich Altstetten
References
Functional Movement Screen (FMS)
