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. 2019 Dec;14(6):877-884.

ACCURACY OF THE FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT SCREEN (FMSTM) ACTIVE STRAIGHT LEG RAISE TEST TO EVALUATE HAMSTRING FLEXIBILITY IN SOCCER PLAYERS

Diulian Muniz Medeiros  1 , Letícia Leal Prates Miranda  1 , Vanessa Bernardes Marques  1 , João Breno de Araujo Ribeiro-Alvares  1 , Bruno Manfredini Baroni  1
Affiliations

ACCURACY OF THE FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT SCREEN (FMSTM) ACTIVE STRAIGHT LEG RAISE TEST TO EVALUATE HAMSTRING FLEXIBILITY IN SOCCER PLAYERS

Diulian Muniz Medeiros et al. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2019 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Poor flexibility is considered a risk factor for the hamstring strain injury, and the active straight leg raise (ASLR) test proposed as a part of the Functional Movement Screen™ (FMS™) has been used to assess athletes hamstring flexibility. However, the accuracy of this screening test remains undescribed.

Purpose: To examine the accuracy of the FMS™ ASLR test for assessment of hamstring flexibility in soccer players.

Study design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: One-hundred and one male soccer players (age, 21 ± 3 years; height, 179 ± 7 cm; weight, 75 ± 9 kg) were bilaterally evaluated. All players performed a gold standard test for hamstring flexibility evaluation: the passive straight leg raise (PSLR) test measured using a gravitational inclinometer. All players also performed the ASLR test and were scored using the criteria proposed by the FMS™.

Results: Of the 202 lower limbs evaluated, 17.82% scored a 1 on the ASLR [mean passive flexibility: 80.44 ± 14.69 ° (55 °-110 °)], 50.99% scored a 2 on the ASLR [mean passive flexibility = 84.60 ± 10.59 ° (56 °-115 °)], and 31.18% scored a 3 on the ASLR [mean passive flexibility = 92.32 ± 11.53 ° (70 °-120 °)]. Limbs with FMS™ score of 3 presented significantly higher values for passive flexibility than limbs with scores of 1 and 2 (p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between limbs with scores of 1 and 2 (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: The score obtained in the FMS™ ASLR test does not satisfactorily stratify the level of hamstring flexibility in soccer players.

Level of evidence: 3a.

Keywords: Hamstring; injury prevention; posterior thigh; range of motion; soccer.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Passive straight leg raise (PSLR) test using a gravitational inclinometer.”.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Active straight leg raise (ASLR) test proposed as a part of the Functional Movement Screen (FMS™).
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Individual (gray circles) and grouped results (horizontal bars; mean ± SD) of passive straight leg raise (PSLR) test classified according to the active straight leg raise (ASLR) test proposed by the Functional Movement Screen (FMSTM).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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