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Test 1: Deep Squat

The squat is a movement needed in mostathletic events. It is the ready position and is re-quired for most power and lifting movementsinvolving the lower extremities. The deep squatis a test that challenges total body mechanicswhen performed properly. It is used to assessbilateral, symmetrical and functional mobilityof the hips, knees and ankles. The dowel heldoverhead assesses bilateral, symmetricalmobility of the shoulders as well as thethoracic spine. The ability to performthe deep squat requires appropri-ate pelvic rhythm, closed-kineticchain dorsiflexion of the ankles,flexion of the knees and hipsand extension of the thoracicspine, as well as flexion andabduction of the shoulders.

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and stabilizing movements. The tests place theindividual in extreme positions where weaknessesand imbalances become noticeable if appropri-ate stability and mobility is not utilized. It has beenobserved that many individuals who perform atvery high levels during activities are unable toperform these simple movements. These individu-als should be considered to be utilizing compen-satory movement patterns during their activities,sacrificing efficient movements for inefficientones in order to perform at high levels. If thesecompensations continue, then poor movementpatterns will be reinforced leading to poor bio-mechanics.

he Functional Movement Screen(FMS) is aninnovative system used to evaluate move-ment pattern quality for clients or athletes.The beauty of the Functional Movement Screen isthat a personal trainer, athletic trainer or strengthand conditioning coach can learn the system andhave a simple and quantiﬁable method of evalu-ating basic movement abilities. The FMS only re-quires the ability to observe basic movement pat-terns already familiar to the coach or trainer. Thekey to the Functional Movement Screen is thatit consists of a series of simple tests with a simplegrading system. The FMS allows a trainer or coachto begin the process of functional movement pat-tern assessment in individuals without recognizedpathology. The FMS is not intended to diagnoseorthopedic problems but rather to demonstratelimitations or asymmetries in healthy individualswith respect to basic movement patterns andeventually correlate them with outcomes.The Functional Movement Screen providesa strength and conditioning coach or personaltrainer with an evaluation option that relatesclosely to what the athlete or client will actuallydo in training. In a sense, the tests are improvedby working on variations of the skills tested. TheFMS allows evaluation with tools and movementpatterns that readily make sense to both the cli-ent and the trainer or coach.The test is comprised of seven fundamentalmovement patterns that require a balance of mo-bility and stability. These fundamental movementpatterns are designed to provide observableperformance of basic loco motor, manipulative

The FunctionalMovement Screen

The system for a simple and quantiﬁablemethod of evaluating basic movement abilities

Gray Cook, MS,PT, OCS, CSCSLee Burton, PhD,ATC, CSCS

Test 2: Hurdle Step

The hurdle step is designed tochallenge the body’s properstride mechanics during a step-ping motion. The movement re-quires proper coordination and sta-bility between the hips and torso duringthe stepping motion as well as single legstance stability. The hurdle step assessesbilateral functional mobility and stabilityof the hips, knees and ankles. Perform-ing the hurdle step test requires stance-leg stability of the ankle, knee and hipas well as maximal closed-kinetic chainextension of the hip. The hurdle step alsorequires step-leg open-kinetic chain dor-siﬂexion of the ankle and ﬂexion of theknee and hip. In addition, the subjectmust also display adequate balancebecause the test imposes a need for dy-namic stability.

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10Test 3: In-Line Lunge

This test attempts to place the body ina position that will focus on the stresses assimulated during rotational, deceleratingand lateral-type movements. The in-line lunge is a test that places thelower extremity in a scissored po-sition, challenging the body’strunk and extremities to resistrotation and maintain properalignment. This test assessestorso, shoulder, hip and anklemobility and stability, quadri-ceps flexibility and knee stability.The ability to perform the in-linelunge test requires stance-legstability of the ankle, knee and hipas well as apparent closed kinetic-chain hip abduction. The in-linelunge also requires step-leg mobilityof the hip, ankle dorsiflexion and rectusfemoris flexibility. The subject must alsodisplay adequate stability due to therotational stress imposed.

Test 5: Active Straight-Leg Raise

The active straight-leg raise tests the abil-ity to disassociate the lower extremity whilemaintaining stability in the torso. The activestraight-leg raise test assesses active hamstringand gastroc-soleus flexibility while maintain-ing a stable pelvis and active extension of theopposite leg. The ability to perform the ac-tive straight-leg raise test requires functionalhamstring flexibility, which is the flexibility thatis available during training and competition.This is different from passive flexibility, which ismore commonly assessed. The subject is alsorequired to demonstrate adequate hip mobil-ity of the opposite leg as well as lower abdomi-nal stability.

Test 6: Trunk Stability Push-up

The trunk stability push-up tests the ability to stabilize the spinein an anterior and posterior plane during a closed-chain upperbody movement. It assesses trunk stability in the sagittal planewhile a symmetrical upper-extremity motion is performed. Theability to perform the trunk stability push-up requires symmetrictrunk stability in the sagittal plane during a symmetric upper ex-tremity movement. Many functional activities require the trunkstabilizers to transfer force symmetrically from the upper extremi-ties to the lower extremities and vice versa. Movements such asblocking in football and jumping for rebounds in basketball arecommon examples of this type of energy transfer. If the trunkdoes not have adequate stability during these activities, kinet-ic energy will be dispersed, leading to poor functional perfor-mance as well as increased potential for microtraumatic injury.