Pre-participation screening: the use of fundamental movements as an assessment of function - part 1

Abstract

To prepare an athlete for the wide variety of activities needed to participate in their sport, the analysis of fundamental movements should be incorporated into pre-participation screening in order to determine who possesses, or lacks, the ability to perform certain essential movements. In a series of two articles, the background and rationale for the analysis of fundamental movement will be provided. In addition, one such evaluation tool that attempts to assess the fundamental movement patterns performed by an individual, the Functional Movement Screen (FMS(™)), will be described. Three of the seven fundamental movement patterns that comprise the FMS(™) are described in detail in Part I: deep squat, hurdle step, and in-line lunge. Part II of this series, which will be published in the August issue of NAJSPT, will provide a brief review of the analysis of fundamental movements, as well a detailed description of the four additional patterns that complement those presented in Part I (to complete the total of seven fundamental movement patterns which comprise the FMS(™)): shoulder mobility, active straight leg raise, trunk stability push-up, and rotary stability.The intent of this two part series is to introduce the concept of the evaluation of fundamental movements, whether it is the FMS(™) system or a different system devised by another clinician. Such a functional assessment should be incorporated into pre-participation screening in order to determine whether the athlete has the essential movements needed to participate in sports activities with a decreased risk of injury.

Figure 1.

Deep squat anterior view. III

1. Upper torso is parallel with tibia or toward vertical

2. Femur below horizontal

3. Knees are aligned over feet

4. Dowel aligned over feet

Figure 2.

Deep squat lateral view.

Figure 3.

Deep squat anterior view. II

1. Upper torso is parallel with tibia or toward vertical

2. Femur is below horizontal

3. Knees are aligned over feet

4. Dowel is aligned over feet

5. 2×6 board required under feet

Figure 4.

Deep squat anterior view. I

1. Tibia and upper torso are not parallel

2. Femur is not below horizontal

3. Knees are not aligned over feet

4. Lumbar flexion is noted

5. 2×6 board required under feet

Figure 5.

Hurdle step anterior view. III

1. Hips, knees and ankles remain aligned in the sagittal plane

2. Minimal to no movement is noted in lumbar spine

3. Dowel and string remain parallel

Figure 6.

Hurdle step anterior view.

Figure 7.

Hurdle step anterior view. II

1. Alignment is lost between hips, knees, and ankles

2. Movement is noted in lumbar spine

3. Dowel and string do not remain parallel

Figure 8.

Hurdle step anterior view. I

1. Contact between foot and string occurs

2. Loss of balance is noted

Figure 9.

In Line Lunge anterior view. III

1. Dowel contacts remain with lumbar spine extension

2. No torso movement is noted

3. Dowel and feet remain in sagittal plane

4. Knee touches board behind heel of front foot

Figure 10.

In Line Lunge lateral view.

Figure 11.

In Line Lunge lateral view. II

1. Dowel contacts do not remain with lumbar spine extension

2. Movement is noted in torso

3. Dowel and feet do not remain in sagittal plane

4. Knee does not touch behind heel of front foot

Figure 12.

In Line Lunge anterior view. I

1. Loss of balance is noted