Movement screens: Are we measuring movement dysfunction or movement skill?

Abstract

Movement screens are commonly used for assessing athletic readiness or injury potential. However, these screens fail to distinguish between movement dysfunction and movement skill. The purpose of this study was to compare performance on a common movement screen test, the overhead squat, when using no instructions (Baseline), instruction from a commercial movement screen, and instructions which include verbal cues, demonstration, and practice (Instructions, Demonstration, and Practice [IDP]). Fourteen individuals performed the overhead squat under the three different conditions while their movements were recorded using a 12-camera motion capture system. Specific scoring criteria for the overhead squat such as joint angles, depth of squat, torso and shank orientation, and weight distribution were compared between instructional conditions. Compared to the Baseline and commercial movement screen conditions, IDP resulted in greater vertical center of mass displacement, better alignment of the torso and shank segments, and greater peak flexion at the hip and knee. These results show that incorporating verbal cues, providing demonstration, and allowing for practice during movement screening significantly improve performance in the overhead squat assessment. Based on these results, the authors recommend that coaches or clinicians using movement screens to identify movement dysfunction should provide demonstrations of the movement, allow the participant to practice, provide verbal instructions about the movement prior to assessment, and provide corrective feedback during practice. Excluding these elements limits the ability to distinguish between true dysfunctional movement patterns and a simple lack of movement skill.

The Influence of an 8-Week Strength and Corrective Exercise Intervention on the Overhead Deep Squat and Golf Swing Kinematics

“…Hand width was set by placing a bar on the head and adjusting the elbows to 90° before fully extending the arms to an overhead position. As per recommendations from Vidal et al (41), verbal cues and demonstrations were provided, and familiarization time was allowed before subjects completed an OHS. While squatting to as low a position as possible, subjects were instructed to try and maintain a parallel position with the feet, with heels on the floor and the arms fully extended at the elbow with the hands remaining overhead and not moving past the toe line.…”

“…Strength and conditioning coaches should continue to perform assessments of the OHS with their golfers to understand whether there are physical restrictions or weakness to inform their interventions. However, caution should be exercised when using the results to allow any OHS motor learning issues to be addressed before drawing conclusions from this assessment tool (41). Loss of posture during the swing may still be because of learnt movement behavior or physical constraints.…”