Functional movement screen normative values in a young, active population

The Functional Movement Screen(TM) (FMS(TM)) is a screening instrument which evaluates selective fundamental movement patterns to determine potential injury risk. However, despite its global use, there are currently no normative values available for the FMS(TM).

To establish normative values for the FMS(TM) in a population of active, healthy individuals. Secondary aims were to investigate whether performance differed between males and females, between those with and without a previous history of injury, and to establish real-time inter-rater reliability of the FMS(TM).

Two hundred and nine (108 females and 101 males) physically active individuals, aged between 18 and 40 years, with no recent (<6 weeks) history of musculoskeletal injury were recruited. All participants performed the FMS(TM) and were scored using the previously established standardized FMS(TM) criteria. A representative sub-group participant sample (28%) determined inter rater reliability.

The mean composite FMS(TM) score was 15.7 with a 95% confidence interval between 15.4 and 15.9 out of a possible total of 21. There was no statistically significant difference in scores between females and males (t(207) = .979, p = .329), or those who reported a previous injury and those who did not (t(207) = .688, p= .492). Inter-rater reliability (ICC(3,1)) for the composite FMS(TM) score was .971, demonstrating excellent reliability. Inter-rater reliability (Kappa) for individual test components of the FMS(TM) demonstrated substantial to excellent agreement (0.70 - 1.0).

This cross-sectional study provides FMS(TM) reference values for young, active individuals, which will assist in the interpretation of individual scores when screening athletes for musculoskeletal injury and performance factors.