Movemnt Screening

How can you call something a functional movement screen when most of the movements are in positions that are at low levels of function for any athletic body? We need to always keep in mind that we have three movement constants the body, the ground, and gravity. In movement assessment we want to see the effect of gravity on the body and how the body effectively uses the ground to be able to stabilize, produce, and reduce force. Screening using artificial movements in a sterile environment is of little or no value.

As a coach I want to know what an athlete can do, where I can start them on a progression on a continuum of function in their training. Every athlete at every level has “deficiencies,” are those really deficiencies or are they in the eye of the beholder. The perceived deficiencies must be evaluated in the context of the athletes training background, development age and the actual sport. Each athlete has a movement signature, a fingerprint that defines him or her as an individual in regard to their movement patterns, to change that is very difficult and of questionable necessity. We also need to remember when we are screening movement that the body is asymmetrical, to seek symmetry is unrealistic. Proportionality right to left and front to back is a more realistic and practical goal.

I have different movements that I use to evaluate my athletes depending on the sport and their developmental age. No seven tests will fit all athletes; one size does not fit all. Also remember that Testing = Training and Training = Testing. Every training session includes fundamental movements that I use for ongoing evaluation against a baseline. The bottom line is to develop a screen that works for you in your situation that gives you actionable information that you can translate into an improved training program.

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Comment by Jim Storch on February 7, 2013 at 2:18pm: Yes we're all assymetrical but when these assymetries fall out of accepted "plum", one's body positioning can adversly affect ground and gravity constraints. However, the FMS can consistently identify relavent dysfunctions and be consistently reproduced while providing the eye of the beholder a path towards achieving balance. If a basketball player has difficulty going left what do they do? They practice left whether its for cognitive purposes or physical purposes, they're looking for balance/symmetry in their game. The evidence of FMS is clear & growing. In my clinical practice, assymetries can be correctly identified and corrective exercise implemented to achieve a more symmetrical movement pattern in a variety of cases/diagnosis. When addressed, greater power output and improved function with any activity is achieved. I don't agree that symmetry is impossible but the more important question is at what point does the assymetry affect function. The Y-balance test may help address lateral movements

Comment by John Mikula, MA, CTRS, CSCS, HFS on February 7, 2013 at 10:05am: Yes, I agree. It seems strange, but I've been involved with programs at nearly all levels of competition and worked in physical rehab for 10 years. However, inquiring into athletes' injuries past or present by strength coaches is almost taboo. In many circles, it appears as weakness by the athlete. Yet, for example, I've known many athletes that continue to perform heavy barbell squats and power-cleans with known bulging discs in the low back or that just are not anatomically suited for these movements. Somewhat like half-time adjustments, shouldn't strength/conditioning professionals be able to offer "extensions" of training movements to account for this? I think so.

Comment by Vern Gambetta on February 7, 2013 at 7:36am: We certainly consider vectors and multi-plane movements - Absolutely. As far as predicting injury how about injury history and training history?

Comment by John Mikula, MA, CTRS, CSCS, HFS on February 7, 2013 at 7:29am: Yes, I would agree with you, Mr. Gambetta. What I'd like to add to your constants is consideration of vectors or the direction of the body on a plane in space. I don't recall in a clinical setting coming across a movement screen that seemed to have real application outside of the clinic. As far as estimating injury, instead of using a functional screen, what not query athletes about pain while performing the training movement and work to correct? As far as function goes, why not test general physical-fitness and then design training constructs that develop biomechanical pathways and intensity specific to practicing at a high level?

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