Intrarater reliability of the functional movement screen

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Movement Science
• Biomechanical Analysis

Background:

• The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is widely used to assess movement asymmetries and identify potential injury risks.
• While FMS reliability has been studied, intrarater reliability and the impact of clinical experience remain underexplored.
• Understanding factors influencing FMS reliability is crucial for its accurate application in clinical and athletic settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the intrarater reliability of the Functional Movement Screen (FMS).
• To examine the influence of clinical experience as an athletic trainer (AT) on FMS intrarater reliability.
• To determine the effect of prior experience with the FMS on its testing reliability.

Main Methods:

• A controlled laboratory study employing repeated measures design.
• Three models performed FMS tests on video for rating by participants.
• Participants with varying levels of FMS and clinical experience rated the models twice, one week apart, with randomized video order.

Main Results:

• Strong intrarater reliability was observed across all participants.
• Athletic trainers (ATs) with at least six months of FMS experience demonstrated the highest reliability (ICC (2,1): 0.946).
• ATs with general clinical experience showed moderate reliability (ICC (2,1): 0.771).

Conclusions:

• Intrarater reliability of the FMS is strong.
• Increased experience with the FMS, coupled with clinical experience as an AT, appears to enhance its reliability.
• These findings support the FMS as a reliable tool when administered by experienced clinicians.