Tee, Jason C.Klingbiel, Jannie F.G.Collins, Robert MatthewLambert, Mike I.Coopoo, Yoga2017-05-302016-11Tee, J.C., Klingbiel, J.F.G., Collins, R., Lambert, M.I. & Coopoo, Y. 2016, 'Preseason functional movement screen component tests predict severe contact injuries in professional rugby union players', Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, vol. 30, no. 11, pp. 3194-3203.1533-4287 (online)1064-8011 (print)10.1519/JSC.0000000000001422http://hdl.handle.net/2263/60698Rugby union is a collision sport with a relatively high risk of injury. The ability of the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) or its component tests to predict the occurrence of severe (≥28 days) injuries in professional players was assessed. Ninety FMS test observations from 62 players across 4 different time periods were compared with severe injuries sustained during 6 months after FMS testing. Mean composite FMS scores were significantly lower in players who sustained severe injury (injured 13.2 ± 1.5 vs. noninjured 14.5 ± 1.4, Effect Size = 0.83, large) because of differences in in-line lunge (ILL) and active straight leg raise scores (ASLR). Receiver-operated characteristic curves and 2 × 2 contingency tables were used to determine that ASLR (cut-off 2/3) was the injury predictor with the greatest sensitivity (0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.79–1.0). Adding the ILL in combination with ASLR (ILL + ASLR) improved the specificity of the injury prediction model (ASLR specificity = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.18–0.43 vs. ASLR + ILL specificity = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.39–0.66, p ≤ 0.05). Further analysis was performed to determine whether FMS tests could predict contact and noncontact injuries. The FMS composite score and various combinations of component tests (deep squat [DS] + ILL, ILL + ASLR, and DS + ILL + ASLR) were all significant predictors of contact injury. The FMS composite score also predicted noncontact injury, but no component test or combination thereof produced a similar result. These findings indicate that low scores on various FMS component tests are risk factors for injury in professional rugby players.English© 2016 National Strength and Conditioning Association. This is a non-final version of an article published in final form in Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, vol. 30, no. 11, pp. 3194-3203, 2016. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001422.Team sportRisk factorMovement patternTackleSensitivitySpecificityPostprint Article