The Functional Movement Screen

This week the doctors of Health-Fit Chiropractic and Sports Medicine have started treating former college players as they prepare for the NFL Combine and 'Pro Days'.  These are the times when college football players look to improve their stock in an attempt to get drafted high and make a NFL roster next summer.  Our job is to rehab any of their injuries and improve their performance as they get closer to draft time.

Now at the NFL combine, all the players are run through a million tests; one of them is call the Functional Movement Screen(FMS).  The FMS is a series of 7 movements that have been proven to actually predict future injuries based on the quality of one's movement.  At the various Combine prep camps that we work for, we use these tests as a road map of what needs to be addressed on these players before their 'judgement day'.

The movements are basic; like the squat, the lunge, the pushup, etc...  Whenever the quality of one's movement is poor enough that it registers a 'red flag' in the test, we know that as therapists we need to address the flexibility(mobility) or the control(stability) of the movement.

For example, one of the tests we use is called 'The Hurdle Step'.  This looks at the flexibility of ones hips, and the stability of your core.  If you can step over the hurdle and come back without compensating in any way (twisting the knee or bending the back) then you pass the test.

A perfect hurdle step

  VS.

See how he compensates by rotating his foot inward?  Otherwise he can't get his foot over the hurdle. That's a lack of left hip flexibility.

But how does that predict future injury?

Well......

When someone has a lack of hip flexibility, they need to compensate during their movement.  Since they don't have the flexibility in their hip, they steal motion (and add stress) to areas like the lower back, or the knees.  Eventually, over time, these areas are more apt to be injured in some way.

So for the football players we look at what needs to be addressed as far as this man's left hip flexibility. We might do some muscle therapies, we might do some joint manipulations, or we might use some corrective exercises.  

It's great because we really use the FMS as a roadmap of what these guys need to decrease their risk of injury and improve performance.  

Personal trainers can always look into getting certified in the FMS so they can better serve their training clients at www.functionalmovementsystems.com.  

If you would like to have the Functional Movement Screen on you to predict your future injuries (so you can avoid them!) you can set up your own personalized test at www.Mobility-4Life.com or dial us at 561.997.8898