Functional movement ScreenTM--normative values in healthy distance runners
C Agresta1, M Slobodinsky1, C Tucker1
1Department of Physical Therapy, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States.
International Journal of Sports Medicine
|August 22, 2014
Summary
The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) can help identify injury risk in runners. This study established normative FMS values for distance runners, finding no significant differences based on experience or injury history.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Biomechanics
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Recreational runners face high overuse injury rates, up to 79%.
- Pre-participation screening tools may mitigate running injuries.
- The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is a validated injury prediction tool for athletes, but not yet for endurance runners.
Purpose of the Study:
- Establish normative Functional Movement Screen (FMS) values for distance runners.
- Assess the FMS's utility in identifying injury risk factors specific to this population.
Main Methods:
- 45 healthy distance runners completed the FMS.
- Descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, and Chi-square tests were employed.
- Analysis examined FMS score variations based on gender, experience, and injury history.
Main Results:
- The average FMS score was 13.13±1.8.
- No significant FMS score differences were observed between novice and experienced runners (p=0.71).
- No significant differences were found between runners with and without a history of injury (p=0.20).
- Significant gender-based differences emerged in deep squat (p<0.05), trunk stability push-up (p<0.001), and active straight leg raise (p=0.002) components.
Conclusions:
- This study provides the first normative FMS values for uninjured distance runners.
- The FMS may offer valuable insights into movement patterns and potential injury risks in runners.
- Specific FMS components show gender-related variations, warranting further investigation in running populations.
