Abstract:
BACKGROUND : The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) assesses the quality of movements, including
the deep squat (DS), which is used in sports settings. The validity of the individual item scores
has yet to be established.
OBJECTIVES : To investigate the validity of the FMS DS by comparing the sagittal plane
kinematics of participants who achieve different observer scores.
METHOD : Seventeen injury-free, adolescent male cricket bowlers were assessed. The movement
was captured using the Optitrack® motion capture system. Simultaneously, observers scored
participants’ execution of the DS according to the standard FMS scoring criteria. Participants
were grouped into Group 1 (lowest score), Group 2 (altered movement mechanics) or Group 3
(perfect score) according to observer scores. Specific joint angles of each group were compared
using the Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests.
RESULTS : There were significant differences in the degree to which the femur passed the
horizontal between Group 3 and Group 1 (p = 0.04, r = 0.61) and Group 2 and Group 1 (p = 0.03,
r = 0.66) and the difference in the degree to which the torso was kept vertical between Group
3 and Group 1 (p = 0.02, r = 0.66) and Group 2 and Group 1 (p = 0.02; r = 0.72).
CONCLUSION : Kinematic differences exist between participants who achieve different observer
scores for the FMS DS.
CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS : While differences in sagittal plane kinematics have been observed in
participants scoring high on the FMS DS and participants scoring low, further investigation
into the validity of the frontal plane kinematics is warranted, as well as the concurrent validity
of the individual scoring criteria.
Description:
DATA AVAILABILITY : Data supporting the findings of this study are available from
the corresponding author, O.L.O., on request.