The effect of auto-generated corrective exercise programming on movement literacy among firefighters: a pilot study

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Occupational Health
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Musculoskeletal injuries affect approximately 50% of firefighters.
• Poor movement quality is a significant risk factor for these injuries.
• Movement-based interventions show potential for injury reduction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of auto-generated exercise programming on movement literacy.
• To assess changes in Functional Movement System (FMS™) scores in firefighters with low baseline scores.

Main Methods:

• Eleven male firefighters with FMS™ scores below 14/21 participated.
• Baseline FMS™ assessments were conducted with detailed explanations.
• Participants received auto-generated corrective exercise programs via the FMS™PRO App.
• Follow-up assessments occurred after an average of 262 days.

Main Results:

• Mean composite FMS™ scores significantly improved from 11.2 to 15.6 (p=.003) with a large effect size.
• Significant improvements were noted in deep overhead squat, hurdle, shoulder mobility, and rotary stability.
• No significant changes were observed in inline lunge, active straight leg raise, or trunk stability push-up.

Conclusions:

• Auto-generated, individualized corrective exercise programs based on FMS™ scores are effective.
• The program's effectiveness exceeded the minimal detectable change threshold of 2.5/21.
• This approach offers a viable strategy for enhancing firefighter movement quality and potentially reducing injuries.