Study of the measurement and predictive validity of the Functional Movement Screen

Abstract

ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to evaluate the reported measurement capabilities and predictive validity of the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) for injury.MethodsThis was a prospective observational longitudinal study of 24 male footballers from a single team in England, alongside analysis of an existing database over one season (September 2015–May 2016). A preseason FMS was carried out with scores recorded by an experienced assessor and derived, retrospectively, from the three-dimensional movement data that were simultaneously captured. The assessor scores were compared with the photogrammetric system to determine measurement validity, and predictive validity was quantified by assessing sensitivity and specificity (cut-off score of 14).ResultsThe real-time assessor score matched the photogrammetric score awarded for one of the participants, was higher than the photogrammetric system for 22 participants and was lower than the photogrammetric system in 1 participant. There was no discernible relationship between FMS scores and the competencies required to be met as per the rules articulated for the allocation of a score. A higher number of total injuries were associated with higher FMS scores, whether determined through real-time assessment or codification of kinematic variables. Additionally, neither method of score determination was able to prospectively identify players at risk of serious injury.ConclusionThe FMS does not demonstrate the properties essential to be considered as a measurement scale and has neither measurement nor predictive validity. A possible reason for these observations could be the complexity in the instructions associated with the scale. Further work on eliminating redundancies and improving the measurement properties is recommended.

Can we predict injury in male football players based on the functional movement screen and other tests of injury risk? (PhD Academy Award)

“…Results from study 1 identified that the FMS scale and scoring criteria, in its current form, did not demonstrate the basic properties needed to provide an accurate measure of movement, injury risk or any of the other reported capabilities of the FMS 6. Similar results were observed in study 2, as the FMS thresholds used to predict injury, whether scores were determined by a real-time assessment or an objective assessment of 3D movements, did not predict injury.…”

Developing A Diagnostic Decision Support System (DDSS) to Reduce Time To Diagnosis in Paediatric Shoulder Instability

“…subjective reports by the patient and measurements or specialist clinical tests performed by the physiotherapist. Subjective reporting can be subject to recall bias (26) and clinical scales or orthopaedic tests lack sensitivity and speci city (27,28). Clinical decision-making processes based on these are therefore likely to be prone to error.…”

Improving predictor selection for injury modelling methods in male footballers

“…Ethical approval was granted and a pre-existing dataset collected as part of a prospective observational longitudinal study (set up in accordance with the consensus statement for data collection and injury reporting in football) was used in this study 7 11. Additional personal training activities not planned by the team’s coaching or fitness staff were recorded within the database alongside measures of fitness and workload.…”