Relationship between functional movement screening (FMS) scores and balance and strength performance in young male athletes

Functional movement screening (FMS) is a test developed to evaluate the fundamental movement patterns underlying both sports performance and injury risk. This study aims at evaluating the relationships between FMS test scores and strength and balance performance in young male athletes. Male athletes (n = 41, mean age 13.5 ± 1.7 years) interested in team sports participated in the study voluntarily. FMS scores, dynamic balance, static balance and strength values of the participants were determined. Shapiro-Wilk test was applied to determine if the data were normally distributed, Pearson’s correlation coefficient analysis was used measure linear correlation, and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (ρ) was determined to measure the strength and direction of correlation between variables. Significant differences ranged between p = 0.01 and p = 0.05. As a result of the analyses, a positive low-level relationship for the balance measures was found between the total. FMS score and the right postero-medial (p = 0.042), and right leg composite (p = 0.30), left leg composite (p = 0.026) of the Y balance subtests while no relationships were identified in other parameters (p > 0.05). For the strength masures, a positive low-level relationship was detected between the FMS score and back strength (p = 0.016), while no relationship was found between the other strength parameters (p > 0.05). For balance and strength parameters, a moderate negative relationship was found between the FMS score and the left leg flamingo test (p = 0.009). Also according to regression analysis that the predictive power of independent variables on FMS scores is quite low. In general, it is seen that the autocorrelation between the dependent variable and predictor variables is at an acceptable level (1.768 < Durbin-Watson < 2.196). As a result, FMS scores in this athlete sample were associated with dynamic balance, static balance and strength performance.

Functional movement screening; Strength; Balance; Young male athletes

[1] Lisman P, Hildebrand E, Nadelen M, Leppert K. Association of functional movement screen and y-balance test scores with injury in high school athletes. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2021; 35: 1930–1938.

[2] Minthorn LM, Fayson SD, Stobierski LM, Welch CE, Anderson BE. The functional movement screen’s ability to detect changes in movement patterns after a training intervention. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation. 2015; 24: 322–326.

[3] Vehrs PR, Uvacsek M, Johnson AW. Assessment of dysfunctional movements and asymmetries in children and adolescents using the functional movement screen—a narrative review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18: 12501.

[4] Pfeifer CE, Sacko RS, Ortaglia A, Monsma EV, Beattie PF, Goins J, et al. Functional movement Screen™ in youth sport participants: evaluating the proficiency barrier for injury. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy. 2019; 14: 436–444.

[5] Stapleton DT, Boergers RJ, Rodriguez J, Green G, Johnson K, Williams P, et al. The relationship between functional movement, dynamic stability, and athletic performance assessments in baseball and softball athletes. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2021; 35: S42–S50.

[6] Suchomel TJ, Nimphius S, Stone MH. The importance of muscular strength in athletic performance. Sports Medicine. 2016; 46: 1419–1449.

[7] Lengkana AS, Rahman AA, Alif MN, Mulya G, Priana A, Hermawan DB. Static and Dynamic Balance Learning in Primary School Students. International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences. 2020; 8: 469–476.

[8] Alexe DI, Čaušević D, Čović N, Rani B, Tohănean DI, Abazović E, et al. The relationship between functional movement quality and speed, agility, and jump performance in elite female youth football players. Sports. 2024; 12: 214.

[9] Fitton Davies K, Sacko RS, Lyons MA, Duncan MJ. Association between functional movement screen scores and athletic performance in adolescents: a systematic review. Sports. 2022; 10: 28.

[10] Pan J. Evaluation on the Level of Functional movement screen (FMS) and functional training VIS‐À‐VIS sprint performance of college track and field athletes. Journal of Education and Educational Research. 2024; 8: 380–389.

[11] Kraus K, Schütz E, Taylor WR, Doyscher R. Efficacy of the functional movement screen: a review. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2014; 28: 3571–3584.

[12] Zhang DQ, Xu CY, Du JK, Qi WW, Zhou XZ, Zhou XQ. A study on the physical function training of Chinese elite male Sanda athletes. Journal of Physical Education. 2021; 28: 131–137.

[13] Gözlükaya Girginer F. The relationship between functional movement test (FMS) results and the athletic performance of young football players. Gaziantep University Journal of Sports Sciences. 2024; 9: 1–12.

[14] Bonazza NA, Smuin D, Onks CA, Silvis ML, Dhawan A. Reliability, validity, and injury predictive value of the functional movement screen: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2017; 45: 725–732.

[15] Karuc J, Mišigoj-Duraković M, Šarlija M, Marković G, Hadžić V, Trošt-Bobić T, et al. Can injuries be predicted by functional movement screen in adolescents? The application of machine learning. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2021; 35: 910–919.

[16] Lee CL, Hsu MC, Chang WD, Wang SC, Chen CY, Chou PH, et al. Functional movement screen comparison between the preparative period and competitive period in high school baseball players. Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness. 2018; 16: 68–72.

[17] Kiesel K, Plisky PJ, Voight ML. Can serious injury in professional football be predicted by a preseason functional movement screen? North American Journal of Sports Physical Therapy. 2007; 2: 147–158.

[18] Çakır E, Özbar N. Comparison of flamingo and stork balance test among female futsal players and the effect of muscle force on tests. Gazi Journal of Physical Education and Sport Sciences. 2019; 24:181–188.

[19] Kinzey SJ, Armstrong CW. The reliability of the star-excursion test in assessing dynamic balance. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. 1998; 27: 356–360.

[20] Kamuk YU. Analysis of the statistical methods used in scientific papers in the field of sports sciences. SPORMETRE The Journal of Physical Education and Sport Sciences. 2020; 18: 73–85.

[21] Kılıç S. Linear regression analysis. Journal of Mood Disorders. 2013; 3: 90–92.

[22] Anderson BE, Neumann ML, Huxel Bliven KC. Functional movement screen differences between male and female secondary school athletes. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2015; 29: 1098–1106.

[23] Bardenett SM, Micca JJ, DeNoyelles JT, Miller SD, Jenk DT, Brooks GS. Functional movement screen normative values and validity in high school athletes: can the FMS™ be used as a predictor of injury? International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy. 2015; 10: 303–308.

[24] Parenteau-G E, Gaudreault N, Chambers S, Boisvert C, Grenier A, Gagné G, et al. Functional movement screen test: a reliable screening test for young elite ice hockey players. Physical Therapy in Sport. 2014; 15: 169–175.

[25] Başar MA, Bulgan Ç, Kıstak B. The comparison of 50 meter different swimming style results according to the functional movement screen scores of 11–12 aged swimmers. Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Sports Sciences. 2021; 13: 91–99.

[26] Lee S, Kim H, Kim J. The Functional Movement Screen total score and physical performance in elite male collegiate soccer players. Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation. 2019; 15: 657–662.

[27] Campa F, Piras A, Raffi M, Toselli S. Functional movement patterns and body composition of high-level volleyball, soccer, and rugby players. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation. 2019; 28: 740–745.

[28] Zemková E. Sport-specific balance. Sports Medicine. 2014; 44: 579–590.

[29] Armstrong R. The relationship between the functional movement screen, star excursion balance test and the Beighton score in dancers. The Physician and Sportsmedicine. 2020; 48: 53–62.

[30] Chang WD, Chou LW, Chang NJ, Chen S. Comparison of functional movement screen, star excursion balance test, and physical fitness in junior athletes with different sports injury risk. BioMed Research International. 2020; 2020: 8690540.

[31] de la Motte SJ, Gribbin TC, Lisman P, Beutler AI, Deuster P. The interrelationship of common clinical movement screens: establishing population-specific norms in a large cohort of military applicants. Journal of Athletic Training. 2016; 51: 897–904.

[32] Kramer TA, Sacko RS, Pfeifer CE, Gatens DR, Goins JM, Stodden DF. The association between the functional movement screentm, y-balance test, and physical performance tests in male and female high school athletes. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy. 2019; 14: 911–919.

[33] Sikora D, Linek P. The relationship between the Functional Movement Screen and the Y Balance Test in youth footballers. PeerJ. 2022; 10: e13906.

[34] Scudamore EM, Stevens SL, Fuller DK, Coons JM, Morgan DW. Use of functional movement screen scores to predict dynamic balance in physically active men and women. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2019; 33: 1848–1854.

[35] Scudamore EM, Stevens SL, Fuller DK, Coons JM, Morgan DW. Functional movement screen items predict dynamic balance under military torso load. Military Medicine. 2020; 185: 493–498.

[36] Teyhen DS, Riebel MA, McArthur DR, Savini M, Jones MJ, Goffar SL, et al. Normative data and the influence of age and gender on power, balance, flexibility, and functional movement in healthy service members. Military Medicine. 2014; 179: 413–420.

[37] Misegades J, Rasimowicz M, Cabrera J, Vaccaro K, Kenar T, DeLuccio J, et al. Functional movement and dynamic balance in entry level university dancers. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy. 2020; 15: 548–556.

[38] Smith LJ, Creps JR, Bean R, Rodda B, Alsalaheen B. Performance of high school male athletes on the Functional Movement Screen™. Physical Therapy in Sport. 2017; 27: 17–23.

[39] Silva B, Clemente FM, Martins FM. Associations between functional movement screen scores and performance variables in surf athletes. The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. 2018; 58: 583–590.

[40] Okada T, Huxel KC, Nesser TW. Relationship between core stability, functional movement, and performance. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2011; 25: 252–261.

[41] Koźlenia D, Domaradzki J. The impact of physical performance on functional movement screen scores and asymmetries in female university physical education students. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18: 8872.

[42] Mitchell UH, Johnson AW, Adamson B. Relationship between functional movement screen scores, core strength, posture, and body mass index in school children in Moldova. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2015; 29: 1172–1179.

[43] Rowan CP, Kuropkat C, Gumieniak RJ, Gledhill N, Jamnik VK. Integration of the functional movement screen into the National Hockey League Combine. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2015; 29: 1163–1171.

[44] Aydın K. Investigation of the relationship between FMS scores and some physical parameters in young football players [master’s thesis]. Istanbul Gelisim University, Institute of Graduate Education, Department of Coach Education. 2021.

[45] Kara M, Kaplan T. Investigation of the relationship between functional movement screen score and athletic performance of the professional football players. National Journal of Kinesiology.2022; 3: 48–55.

[46] Hernández LM, Coffin SD, Taylor MK. Greater fitness is associated with improved functional movement characteristics in explosive ordnance disposal technicians. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2022; 36: 1731–1737.