Combining physical performance and Functional Movement Screen testing to identify elite junior Australian Football athletes at risk of injury

Abstract

The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) and physical performance testing are often suggested to be related to sports injury risk. This study explored if the combination of FMS and physical performance testing improved identification of non‐contact injury risk over FMS testing alone in an elite junior Australian football cohort. Over a 3‐year period, 573 players completed pre‐season injury history questionnaires, FMS, physical performance testing (20‐m sprint, vertical jump, planned agility testing, and shuttle run test), and subsequent in‐season injury surveillance. Results: Neither previous injury or FMS score <14 were related to an increased risk of subsequent injury in isolation. The combination of FMS composite score ≤14 and previous injury moderately increased the risk of injury (Hazard ratio [HR] = 2.22 [1.09‐4.54]). None of the physical performance measures improved the ability to predict injuries based on FMS composite score. FMS asymmetry was only associated with injury when combined with previous injury and vertical jump performance. Players with ≥1 FMS asymmetry and history of previous injury experienced a large increase in injury risk when vertical jump was poor (HR = 4.26 [1.35‐13.42]) or good (HR = 3.17 [1.08‐9.29]). Players with a combination of a good vertical jump, no previous injury, and no FMS asymmetries were also at moderately increased risk of injury (HR = 3.41 [1.11‐10.42]). No physical performance tests improved the ability to identify non‐contact injury risk using an FMS composite score threshold. However, a U‐shaped relationship between vertical jump and injury risk was identified with both poor and good vertical jump height associated with a moderate‐large increase in non‐contact injury risk in the presence of ≥1 asymmetrical FMS sub‐test.

Movement Asymmetries: from their Molecular Origin to the Analysis of Movement Asymmetries in Sportsmen

“…According to the work of Mokha et al, asymmetry or a low FMS individual test score, was a better predictor of musculoskeletal injury than the composite FMS score [60]. Specialists also use FMS to obtain additional information about functional inter-limb asymmetries [61]. Australian scientists have proved FMS efficiency when combined with single-leg vertical jumps and previous injury [61].…”

“…Specialists also use FMS to obtain additional information about functional inter-limb asymmetries [61]. Australian scientists have proved FMS efficiency when combined with single-leg vertical jumps and previous injury [61]. For a more detailed analysis, we can use Motion Capture techniques: the parallel use of FMS and Motion Capture is recommended when the athlete has complex movement asymmetries which cannot be easily identified.…”

Functional movement screen evaluation system for the prevention of military training injuries: a prospective study in China

“…It can effectively screen out the dysfunction and asymmetry of subjects during movement and has the ability to identify injury risk [10,11]. FMS has been widely used in rehabilitation training and physical training in competitive sports [12][13][14], nevertheless, studies on its application in the military eld are relatively few. In this study, FMS test was conducted on recruits before military training, and personalized intervention and correction training was conducted according to the scoring results, so as to explore the effectiveness and feasibility of FMS evaluation system in predicting and reducing the occurrence of military training injuries.…”

Reliability Evaluation of Functional Movement Screen for Prevention of Military Training Injury: A Prospective Study in China

“…It can effectively screen out the dysfunction and asymmetry of subjects during movement and has the ability to identify injury risk [10,11]. FMS has been widely used in rehabilitation training and physical training in competitive sports [12][13][14], nevertheless, studies on its application in the military eld are relatively few. In this study, FMS test was conducted on recruits before military training, and personalized intervention and correction training was conducted according to the scoring results, so as to explore the effectiveness and feasibility of FMS evaluation system in predicting and reducing the occurrence of military training injuries.…”