Movement Screening

Critical Questions

  • What is Movement Screening?

  • What are the various methods of movement screening?

  • What is the proposed purpose of Movement Screening?

  • How is movement screening used? (it what was might this differ from the above)

  • What is the evidence for the effectiveness of movement screening? (see McCunn et al, 2016; Moran et al, 2017)

  • What is the Landing Error Scoring System?(see Padua)

Recommended Reading

Textbooks & Chapters

Bishop, C. (2017) Movement Screening: An integrated approach to assessing movement quality. In Turner, A., & Comfort, P. (Eds.). Advanced Strength and Conditioning: An Evidence-based Approach. London, UK: Routledge. (Ch 13)

Brandon, R. (2016) Screening methods for the strength and conditioning practitioner. In Jeffreys, I and Moody,J. Strength and Conditioning for Sports Performance. London: Routledge: 216-229.

Brady, C. and Hennessy, L. (2021) Functional screening methods for the strength and conditioning practitioner. In Jeffreys, I and Moody,J. Strength and Conditioning for Sports Performance (2nd Ed.). London: Routledge: 223-247

Cook, G., (2010) Movement: Functional Movement Systems: Screening, Assessment, and Corrective Strategies. Chichester, Lotus Publishing [companion website][amazon]

Herrington, L. C., Munro, A. G., & Jones, P. A. (2018). Assessment of factors associated with injury risk. In Comfort et al Performance Assessment in Strength and Conditioning. London: Routledge: 53-95. [google books]

Page, P., Frank, C. & Lardner, R. (2010). Assessment and treatment of muscle imbalance: the Janda approach. Human Kinetics.

Reiman, M. P., & Manske, R. C. (2009). Functional testing in human performance. Human Kinetics.

Journal Articles

Bakken, A., Targett, S., Bere, T., Eirale, C., Farooq, A., Tol, J. L., ... & Bahr, R. (2018). The functional movement test 9+ is a poor screening test for lower extremity injuries in professional male football players: a 2-year prospective cohort study. Br J Sports Med, 52(16), 1047-1053. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2016-096570

Bahr, R. (2016). Why screening tests to predict injury do not work—and probably never will…: a critical review. Br J Sports Med, 50(13), 776-780. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2016-096256

Beardsley, C., & Contreras, B. (2014). The functional movement screen: A review. Strength & Conditioning Journal, 36(5), 72-80. doi: 10.1519/SSC.0000000000000074

Beckham, S.G., Harper, M. (2010) Functional Training Fad or Here to Stay? ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal Vol. 14, No. 6, 24-30 [full text]

Bishop, C., Edwards, M., & Turner, A. (2016). Screening movement dysfunctions using the overhead squat. Professional Strength & Conditioning, 42, 22-30. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/83948981.pdf

Bishop, C., Read, P., Walker, S., & Turner, A. N. (2015). Assessing movement using a variety of screening tests. Professional Strength & Conditioning, (37), 17-26. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/42489661.pdf

Bishop, C., Brierly, S., & Turner, A. N. (2016). The single leg squat: When to prescribe this exercise. Professional Strength & Conditioning, (41), 17-26. [www]

Bittencourt, N. F. N., Meeuwisse, W. H., Mendonça, L. D., Nettel-Aguirre, A., Ocarino, J. M., & Fonseca, S. T. (2016). Complex systems approach for sports injuries: moving from risk factor identification to injury pattern recognition—narrative review and new concept. Br J Sports Med, bjsports-2015. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2015-095850

Blanch, P., & Gabbett, T. J. (2016). Has the athlete trained enough to return to play safely? The acute: chronic workload ratio permits clinicians to quantify a player's risk of subsequent injury. Br J Sports Med, 50(8), 471-475. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2015-095445 [www]

Bonazza, N. A., Smuin, D., Onks, C. A., Silvis, M. L., & Dhawan, A. (2017). Reliability, validity, and injury predictive value of the functional movement screen: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 45(3), 725-732. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2015-094913

Butler, R., Plisky, P., Southers, C., Scoma, C., Kiesel, K.B. (2010) Biomechanical analysis of the different classifications of the Functional Movement Screen deep squat test Sports Biomechanics Vol. 9, Issue 4, 270-279 DOI: 10.1080/14763141.2010.539623 [full text]

Chalmers, S., Fuller, J. T., Debenedictis, T. A., Townsley, S., Lynagh, M., Gleeson, C., ... & Magarey, M. (2017). Asymmetry during preseason Functional Movement Screen testing is associated with injury during a junior Australian football season. Journal of science and medicine in sport, 20(7), 653-657. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2016.12.076

Cook, G., Burton, L., Hoogenboom, B. J., & Voight, M. (2014). Functional movement screening: the use of fundamental movements as an assessment of function‐part 1. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 9(3), 396. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4060319/

Cook, G., Burton, L., Hoogenboom, B. J., & Voight, M. (2014). Functional movement screening: the use of fundamental movements as an assessment of function‐part 2. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 9(4), 549. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4127517/

Frohm, A., Heijne, A., Kowalski, J., Svensson, P., Myklebust, G. (2011) A nine-test screening battery for athletes: a reliability study Scand J Med Sci Sports doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2010.01267.x [full text]

Frost, D. M., Beach, T. A. C., Callaghan J. A, & McGill, S. M. (2012). Using the Functional Movement Screen to Evaluate the Effectiveness Of Training. Strength & Conditioning Journal, 26(6), 1620-1630. [abstract]

Grindem, H., Logerstedt, D., Eitzen, I., Moksnes, H., Axe, M. J., Snyder-Mackler, L., ... & Risberg, M. A. (2011). Single-legged hop tests as predictors of self-reported knee function in nonoperatively treated individuals with anterior cruciate ligament injury. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 39(11), 2347-2354. doi.org/10.1177/0363546512457551

Herrington, L., Myer, G. D., & Munro, A. (2013). Intra and inter-tester reliability of the tuck jump assessment. Physical Therapy in Sport, 14(3), 152-155. [www]

Kazman, J. B., Galecki, J. M., Lisman, P., Deuster, P. A., & O'connor, F. G. (2014). Factor structure of the functional movement screen in marine officer candidates. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 28(3), 672-678. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3182a6dd83

Kiesel, K.,Plisky, P., Butler, R.(2009) Functional movement test scores improve following a standardized off-season intervention program in professional football players Scand J Med Sci Sports doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2009.01038.x [full text]

Kiesel, K., Plisky, P. and Voight, M.L. (2007) Can Serious Injury in Professional Football Be Predicted by a Preseason Functional Movement Screen? N Am J Sports Phys Ther. Vol. 2, No.3, 147–158 [full text][pdf]

Kraus, K., Schütz, E., Taylor, W. R., & Doyscher, R. (2014). Efficacy of the functional movement screen: a review. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 28(12), 3571-3584.

Kyritsis, P., Bahr, R., Landreau, P., Miladi, R., & Witvrouw, E. (2016). Likelihood of ACL graft rupture: not meeting six clinical discharge criteria before return to sport is associated with a four times greater risk of rupture. Br J Sports Med, bjsports-2015. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2015-095908

McCunn, R., aus der Fünten, K., Fullagar, H. H., McKeown, I., & Meyer, T. (2016). Reliability and association with injury of movement screens: a critical review. Sports Medicine, 46(6), 763-781. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-015-0453-1

Minick, K.I., Kiesel, K.B., Burton, L., Taylor, A., Plisky, P., and Butler, R.J. (2010) Interrater reliability of the Functional Movement Screen. J Strength Cond Res 24(2): 479–486 [full text]

Moran, R. W., Schneiders, A. G., Mason, J., & Sullivan, S. J. (2017). Do Functional Movement Screen (FMS) composite scores predict subsequent injury? A systematic review with meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med, 51(23), 1661-1669. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2016-096938

Moran, R. W., Schneiders, A. G., Major, K. M., & Sullivan, S. J. (2016). How reliable are Functional Movement Screening scores? A systematic review of rater reliability. Br J Sports Med, 50(9), 527-536. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2015-094913

Myer, G. D., Brent, J. L., Ford, K. R., & Hewett, T. E. (2011). Real-time assessment and neuromuscular training feedback techniques to prevent ACL injury in female athletes. Strength and Conditioning Journal, 33(3), 21.doi: 10.1519/SSC.0b013e318213afa8

Okada, T., Huxel, K.C., and Nesser, T.W. (2011) Relationship between core stability, functional movement, and performance. J Strength Cond Res Vol. 25, No.1, 252–261[full text]

Padua, D. A., Marshall, S. W., Boling, M. C., Thigpen, C. A., Garrett Jr, W. E., & Beutler, A. I. (2009). The Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) is a valid and reliable clinical assessment tool of jump-landing biomechanics: the JUMP-ACL study. The American journal of sports medicine, 37(10), 1996-2002. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546509343200

Padua, D. A., Boling, M. C., DiStefano, L. J., Onate, J. A., Beutler, A. I., & Marshall, S. W. (2011). Reliability of the landing error scoring system-real time, a clinical assessment tool of jump-landing biomechanics. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, 20(2), 145-156. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsr.20.2.145

Padua, D. A., DiStefano, L. J., Beutler, A. I., De La Motte, S. J., DiStefano, M. J., & Marshall, S. W. (2015). The landing error scoring system as a screening tool for an anterior cruciate ligament injury–prevention program in elite-youth soccer athletes. Journal of athletic training, 50(6), 589-595.

Schneiders, A.G. Davidsson, A., Hörman, E., Sullivan, S.J. (2011) Functional Movement Screen Normative Values In A Young, Active Population The International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy Vol. 6, No.2, 75 [full text]

Teyhen, D. S., Shaffer, S. W., Lorenson, C. L., Halfpap, J. P., Donofry, D. F., Walker, M. J., ... & Childs, J. D. (2012). The functional movement screen: a reliability study. journal of orthopaedic & sports physical therapy, 42(6), 530-540.[full text]

Trulsson, A., Miller, M., Hansson, G. Å., Gummesson, C., & Garwicz, M. (2015). Altered movement patterns and muscular activity during single and double leg squats in individuals with anterior cruciate ligament injury. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 16(1), 28. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-015-0472-y

Tumminello, N., Silvernail, J., & Cormack, B. (2017). The Corrective Exercise Trap. Personal Training Quarterly, NSCA, 4(1), 6-15. [www]

Landing Error Scoring System (see Padua)

Online Articles

Beardsey, C. Functional Movement Screen (FMS) https://www.strengthandconditioningresearch.com/functional-movement-screen-fms/

Ingraham, P (2011) The Functional Movement Screen [online] Available at: http://saveyourself.ca/articles/functional-movement-screen.php

Krondorf, L. (2017) Landing error Scoring System(LESS): A clinical tool used to assess jump-landing biomechanics. https://www.scienceforsport.com/landing-error-scoring-system-less/