What is a functional movement screen?

The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is an innovative system used to evaluate movement pattern quality in clients, patients and athletes. The Functional Movement Screen will help demonstrate limitations or asymmetries in healthy individuals with respect to basic movement patterns and eventually correlate them with outcomes. The Functional Movement Screen is comprised of seven fundamental movement patterns that require a balance of mobility and stability.

What are the benefits?

The benefits of the Functional Movement Screen are that a, personal trainer, rehabilitation specialist, athletic trainer or strength and conditioning coach can learn the system and have a simple and quantifiable method of evaluating basic movement abilities. The FMS allows a trainer or coach to begin the process of functional movement pattern assessment in individuals without recognized pathology.

These fundamental movement patterns are designed to provide observable performance of basic loco motor, manipulative and stabilizing movements. The tests place the individual in extreme positions where weaknesses and imbalances become noticeable if appropriate stability and mobility is not utilized.

It has been observed that many individuals who perform at very high levels during activities are unable to perform these simple movements. These individuals should be considered to be utilizing compensatory movement patterns during their activities, sacrificing efficient movements for inefficient ones in order to perform at high levels. If these compensations continue, then poor movement patterns will be reinforced leading to inefficient or poor biomechanics and the possibility of injury.