Preseason Screen Cannot Predict Injury over Three Years of College Football

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics
• Injury Prevention

Background:

• Noncontact injuries pose a significant risk in collegiate football.
• Predictive screening tools are crucial for athlete safety and performance.
• The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is a widely used assessment tool.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) total score, individual component scores, or asymmetry count can predict noncontact injury risk.
• To analyze predictive capabilities within specific player positions (big, combo, skill) in NCAA Division I football.
• To assess injury risk over three consecutive seasons while controlling for athlete exposure.

Main Methods:

• 208 NCAA Division I football athletes participated over three seasons (343 total observations).
• Functional Movement Screen (FMS) scores were analyzed for the entire team and by position groups.
• Injury incidence was analyzed, accounting for athlete exposure and controlling for position.

Main Results:

• No significant relationship was found between total FMS score and noncontact injury likelihood, either for the total team or by position group.
• This lack of association held true for both total injuries and injuries weighted by exposure.
• A significant relationship was identified only for the push-up stability component in the 'combo' player group, in the expected direction.

Conclusions:

• The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) demonstrated limited utility as a predictor of noncontact injury risk in this NCAA Division I football cohort.
• Individual component analysis revealed minimal predictive value, with only one specific test showing a significant association within a subgroup.
• Further research may be needed to explore alternative or modified screening methods for injury risk assessment in football athletes.