Relationship of Preseason Movement Screens With Overuse Symptoms in Collegiate Baseball Players

Abstract

Background: The shoulder mobility screen of the Functional Movement Screen™ (FMS™) and the upper extremity patterns of the Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) assess global, multi-joint movement capabilities in the upper-extremities. Identifying which assessment can most accurately determine if baseball players are at an increased risk of experiencing overuse symptoms in the shoulder or elbow throughout a competitive season may reduce throwing-related injuries requiring medical attention. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if preseason FMS™ or SFMA scores were related to overuse severity scores in the shoulder or elbow during the preseason and competitive season. Study design: Cohort study. Methods: Sixty healthy, male, Division III collegiate baseball players (mean age = 20.1 ± 2.0 years) underwent preseason testing using the FMS™ shoulder mobility screen, and SFMA upper extremity patterns. Their scores were dichotomized into good and bad movement scores, and were compared to weekly questionnaires registering overuse symptoms and pain severity in the shoulder or elbow during the season. Results: Poor FMS™ performance was associated with an increased likelihood of experiencing at least one overuse symptom during the preseason independent of grade and position (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 5.14, p = 0.03). Poor SFMA performance was associated with an increased likelihood of experiencing at least one overuse symptom during the preseason (adjusted OR = 6.10, p = 0.03) and during the competitive season (adjusted OR = 17.07, p = 0.03) independent of grade and position. Conclusion: FMS™ shoulder mobility and SFMA upper extremity pattern performance were related to the likelihood of experiencing overuse symptoms during a baseball season. Participants with poor FMSTM performances may be more likely to experience at least one overuse symptom in their shoulder or elbow during the preseason. Additionally, individuals with poor SFMA performances may be more likely to report overuse symptoms during the preseason or competitive season.

Current Concepts in Arm Care Exercise Programs and Injury Risk Reduction in Adolescent Baseball Players: A Clinical Review

“…Researchers have previously studied preseason movement-based screens in high school and collegiate baseball players as a way to predict injury risk. 6,7,25 Poor performance on the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) shoulder mobility test was associated with an adjusted odds ratio of 5.14 (95% CI, 1.14-22.9) of having an overuse injury during the preseason. 7 Additionally, poor performance on the Selective Functional Movement Assessment upper extremity pattern tests were associated with increased odds of overuse symptoms.…”

“…6,7,25 Poor performance on the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) shoulder mobility test was associated with an adjusted odds ratio of 5.14 (95% CI, 1.14-22.9) of having an overuse injury during the preseason. 7 Additionally, poor performance on the Selective Functional Movement Assessment upper extremity pattern tests were associated with increased odds of overuse symptoms. Specifically, identified dysfunction in either the unilateral shoulder extension/IR pattern or the unilateral shoulder flexion/ER pattern was associated with an adjusted odds ratio of 6.10 (95% CI, 1.22-30.5) and 17.07 (95% CI, 13.9-210.2) during both the preseason and the competitive season, respectively.…”

“…Specifically, identified dysfunction in either the unilateral shoulder extension/IR pattern or the unilateral shoulder flexion/ER pattern was associated with an adjusted odds ratio of 6.10 (95% CI, 1.22-30.5) and 17.07 (95% CI, 13.9-210.2) during both the preseason and the competitive season, respectively. 7 However, these screening procedures are limited to only the shoulder and do not consider other important musculoskeletal impairments, specifically the thorax, hips, and dynamic balance.…”

Utility of FMS to understand injury incidence in sports: current perspectives

“…The FMS has been studied in diverse samples, from middle school students 22 to middle-aged people, 23 from professional athletes 39 to military personnel 40 to civil servants 24 (eg, police and firefighters). Most of the primary (ie, no systematic reviews/meta-analyses) studies have been conducted using samples of collegiate/university athletes (n=22), 37 , 38 , 41 – 60 military personnel (n=13), 26 , 40 , 61 – 71 or physically active people (n=14). 22 , 25 , 27 – 32 , 72 – 77 FMS studies have been conducted in 16 countries, with the majority conducted in the United States (over 60%), but also in Europe (eg, Hungary, 78 Ireland, 27 Sweden 30 ), Africa (eg, South Africa 72 ), Asia (eg, Qatar, 79 Israel, 67 China 80 ), and the Americas (eg, Brazil, 29 Canada, 23 and Australia 24 ).…”

Using the Selective Functional Movement Assessment for the Evaluation of Dancers’ Functional Limitations and Dysfunctions: A Critically Appraised Topic

“…2 The SFMA has also been used to evaluate athletes in various sports such as soccer, weight lifting, running, and baseball. [5][6][7] However, a functional assessment has not been identified for dancers. Dancers participate in a physically demanding activity requiring extreme functional movement.…”