Is a low Functional Movement Screen score (≤14/21) associated with injuries in sport? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

ObjectiveTo assess whether Functional Movement Screen (FMS) score is associated with subsequent injuries in healthy sportspeople.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.Data sourcesThe following electronic databases were searched to December 2017: Medline, PubMed, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Scopus, Embase, and Physiotherapy Evidence Database.Eligibility criteria for selecting studiesEligibility criteria included (1) prospective cohort studies that examined the association between FMS score (≤14/21) and subsequent injuries, (2) a sample of healthy and active participants without restrictions in gender or age, and (3) the OR was the effect size and the main outcome.ResultsThirteen studies met the criteria for the systematic review and 12 were included in the meta-analysis. In 5 of the 12 studies, and among female athletes in 1 study, FMS score ≤14 out of 21 points was associated with subsequent injuries. The overall OR of the selected studies in the meta-analysis was 1.86 (95% CI 1.32 to 2.61) and showed substantial heterogeneity (I2=70%).Summary/ConclusionWhether or not a low FMS score ≤14 out of 21 points is associated with increased risk of injury is unclear. The heterogeneity of the study populations (type of athletes, age and sport exposure) and the definition of injury used in the studies make it difficult to synthesise the evidence and draw definitive conclusions.Trial registration numberCRD42015015579.

Can the Functional Movement Screen Method Identify Previously Injured Wushu Athletes?

“…A lower FMS score is associated with an elevated injury risk [15]. We found that Wushu athletes who had FMS score less than 16 (sensitivity = 80%, specificity = 56%) had a higher odd of having some injury history (OR = 5.096), than those who had score over 16.…”

“…It should be noted that future studies need to consider the potential threshold scores for functional tests. Moreover, prospective studies that include detailed injury surveillance and a more robust injury definition are needed, in order to compare results across different studies [15]. While FMS can be used as a measuring tool and method to predict sports injury for Wushu athletes, the score of FMS test is limited to relate to the incidence of sports injury.…”

“…For instance, the seminal study of Kiesel et al found that professional football players, who received the FMS score of 14 or less, were at a higher risk (odds ratio was 11.67) of serious injuries during the follow-up season [14]. However, while many FMS studies have used the cut-off point of 14 for identifying those at high risk of injury, it has been suggested that a higher composite score (cut-off point >14) may be more suitable for predicting injury risks at the high-level athletes [15]. Furthermore, several controversies exist regarding the predictive validity of the FMS and its underlying factors, e.g., sport type, which may be related to elevate injury risk [16][17][18].…”

Low composite functional movement screen score associated with decline of gait stability in young adults

“…The Functional Movement Screen (FMS)™ is a screening tool used to evaluate mobility, balance, and postural stability using seven fundamental movement patterns and three additional clearing tests ( Cook et al., 2014 ; Scudamore et al, 2019 ; Cook, Burton & Hoogenboom, 2006a ; Cook, Burton & Hoogenboom, 2006b ). Acceptable results for the intra- and interclass reliability (coefficients of 0.869 and 0.843, respectively) of the total FMS score (TFMS), calculated using the sum of the seven movement scores ( Scudamore et al, 2019 ; Moran et al, 2017 ; Trinidad-Fernandez, Gonzalez-Sanchez & Cuesta-Vargas, 2019 ; Bonazza et al, 2017 ; Moore et al, 2019 ), have been reported ( Cuchna, Hoch & Hoch, 2016 ; Moran et al, 2017 ).…”

Effects of functional correction training on injury risk of athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Two studies pertaining to FMS™ and sports injuries of athletes considered the total scores and asymmetry of the FMS™ to be more useful for evaluating the injury risk of older athletes ( Moore et al., 2019 ). Another review reported that the relationship between the FMS™ score and injury is unclear as the heterogeneity of the study populations (type of athletes, age, and sport exposure) and the definition of injury used in the studies made it difficult to draw definitive conclusions ( Trinidad-Fernandez, Gonzalez-Sanchez & Cuesta-Vargas, 2019 ). Therefore, there is no clear conclusion about the relationship between FMS™ and sports injuries.…”