Are Functional Movement Screen Tests Performed at the Right Time, if It Is an Injury Risk Predictor?
Context:
Sports injuries are more common when players are fatigued and occur more frequently at the end of matches; therefore, determining the right time for employing an injury screening test is important.
Objective:
To determine the role of timing (prematch vs postmatch fatigue) on the functional movement screen (FMS) scores, a frequently used injury risk screening method.
Design:
Cross-sectional study.
Setting:
Field.
Participants:
Twenty-four women soccer players from a professional team were included.
Main Outcome Measures:
The players were evaluated with a visual analog scale for perceived fatigue and with the FMS. Assessments were conducted before and after a 60-minute match.
Results:
The subtest scores for deep squat, hurdle line, in-line lunge, trunk stability push-up, and the total FMS scores showed a significant decrease following the match (P < .05). Compared with prematch, the number of players who could achieve the highest score of 3/3 postmatch was lower for all subtests except right shoulder mobility.
Conclusions:
Our results suggest a negative relationship between perceived fatigue level and performance on the deep squat, hurdle line, in-line lunge, and trunk stability push-up subtest scores and in the total FMS score. Therefore, the authors suggest that screening tests such as the FMS should be employed following a match when players present with fatigue.
