Functional movement screens

Preventing injuries and enhancing performance in our everyday lives

We walk certain ways.

We run certain ways.

Sometimes we squat differently than others.

We also all bend down to pick objects up differently.

All that to say, as humans, we conduct our movements and accomplish everyday activities differently than each other. It’s completely normal.

However, what is not normal is when we don’t move properly or efficiently.

In the world of sports, fitness and rehabilitation, understanding how the body moves is fundamental to optimizing performance and preventing injuries.

How movement screens help

A movement screen is a series of tests designed to evaluate how an individual moves.

Pretty simple, right?

The screen identifies areas of muscle imbalance, mobility restrictions or dysfunctional movement patterns that can increase the risk of injury.

You’re probably wondering why they even matter, or maybe you’ve never heard of a movement screen before.

Let’s put it this way. Would you rather be injured and in pain from trying something you thought you could do, or have a screening that informs you how to optimize your movements to avoid injury?

Perhaps you want to see how strong you are before starting another sports season, or if you’re capable of lifting heavy objects before starting a physically demanding job.

Let’s break down why movement screens are important.

1. Injury prevention – The most important advantage of movement screens is to highlight potential injury risks. Many injuries, such as sprains or overuse injuries, stem from poor movement patterns. For example, an athlete with tight hip flexors may compensate during movement, putting undue stress on the lower back or knees, increasing the chance of injury.
2. Performance enhancement – Movement screens can also improve athletic performance. When athletes move more efficiently, they use less energy and reduce unnecessary strain on their bodies. Improving mobility and correcting movement patterns allows for better alignment, balance and power, leading to improved performance.
3. Baseline for progress – Movement screens provide a baseline for current physical abilities. Baselines are important in order to track progress over time. As athletes or individuals engage in their training or rehabilitation programs, periodic reassessment allows for the monitoring of improvements and guides adjustments.
4. Customization of rehabilitation – Again, everyone moves differently. Movement screens bring a personalized approach to both training and rehabilitation. Once areas of weakness are identified, programs can be adjusted to target these specific deficits.

However, remember that movement screens do not diagnose. Screens provide a path or recommendation for how to improve your body, often to figure out why certain areas are breaking down or underperforming.

During a screening, a physical therapist or an athletic trainer will help identify areas that need work or improvement as the patient performs primal movements such as squats, lunging, pushing and more. They can also identify any joints that aren’t working optimally to help avoid injury down the road.

Common movement screen tests

First things first, you don’t have to be injured to have a movement screen done, nor do you have to be a certain age.

Yes, the assessment may be different for an elderly patient versus a teenager, but they all still have the same goal: identifying current performance level and determining fundamental movements to make them better.

Here are several movement screen assessments that are commonly used by professionals:

1. Functional movement screen – This is the most widely used assessment. It evaluates several fundamental movement patterns that are essential to athletic performance, such as deep squats, lunges, stepping, shoulder mobility, leg raises, push-ups and more.
2. Movement competency tests – Using dorsaVi, a sensor that measures motion, acceleration and muscle activity on different parts of your body, or a force plate to determine where you load a joint, a physical therapist can take you through a variety of exercises with this technology. They can provide visual, objective and easily interpreted data to assess technique and movement. Based on this data, a physical therapist or athletic trainer will develop a customized exercise program for you.
3. Fusionetics – This screening uses 2D motion capture to assess how you move. It also includes a customizable app to track your corrective action progress plan. Using this technology, a physical therapist will run through a variety of exercises to assess your strength, balance, running technique and core function. A detailed report and video analysis will be provided that identifies your specific movement patterns.

Any movement screen should be administered by trained professionals who can accurately interpret results and provide actionable insights. This ensures the most effective guidance.

Screening substance

Movement screens are important because they can help identify areas of asymmetry and imbalance in the body, providing information for physical therapists and athletic trainers to help you achieve optimal performance for any activity.

Think of it as self-care for your body.

If you’re starting to work out at the gym again or if you want to start training for a marathon, a movement screen can provide key insight into what areas need to be tweaked in your movements and what area require additional strengthening to avoid injury and deficiency in the body.

You schedule an appointment with your doctor when you feel ill.

You schedule a haircut when your hair starts to get too long or if you feel it needs a tune-up.

You can schedule a movement screen for your body.

Why wouldn’t you want to reduce your injury risk, or identify some movement issues?

Incorporating a movement screen into regular training cycles or even once a year can ensure that any emerging issues are addressed promptly.

Movement screens are a valuable tool in both athletic performance and rehabilitation. By assessing functional movement patterns, athletic trainers and physical therapists can help identify risks, enhance performance and support the recovery process.

Prioritizing movement quality is not just about preventing injury; it’s about empowering individuals to reach their full potential in their daily activities.

Schedule yourself some body TLC, and you may just learn things about your movements that you’ve never known before.