What's The Deal with FMS?

I became a certified FMS expert in March, 2012. FMS (Functional Movement Screen) was developed by Gray Cook and Dr. Lee Burton as a method to prevent injury by scoring seven movement patterns found in all forms of activity (athletic or otherwise). I have performed over 100 screens since my certification and have made some very interesting discoveries. My hope is to share some of those discoveries with you now. But first, let's take a step a back and review some commonly asked questions about the FMS:

What is FMS? It is a physical screen used to prevent injury. There are seven movements that are graded based on specific criteria. The score ranges from zero to three. Zero indicates that there was pain present during the movement, one indicates that the movement could not be completed, two indicates that the movement could be completed with minor compensations, and three indicates that the movement could be completed without compensations.

Five of the seven movements are unilateral, which is to say that they are performed on the left and right sides of the body. If one side performs better than the other (whether it is weakness, stiffness, or lack of coordination) it is noted an an asymmetry. Asymmetries are an indicator of dysfunction which can lead to injury.

Why use FMS? The ultimate answer is to create a path to wellness. FMS gives the trainer a baseline and a specific course to follow used to strengthen any weakness in the body's kinetic chain. For instance, someone may see me because they have tight hamstrings. After I observe how they move, and based on the FMS score, I may find that their core is not functioning optimally. Once I correct this weak link in the chain, the hamstrings will  function correctly and become less tight. Yes, most of the time it is that simple and powerful. Once the hamstring issue is resolved, we screen again to test and see if the score has remained the same, gotten higher, or gotten lower. Based on those results, we move on to the next weak link or continue working until the current issue is resolved.

According to the professionals at Functionalmovemtent.com,"Top winning teams and organizations that use the FMS system include NFL teams like the Falcons, Packers, Jets, Bears, Colts, Giants, MLB teams like the Rangers, Giants, Devil Rays, the military special forces which has decreased training injuries from 37% to under 10% and Occupational groups like Orange Co.Fire and Midwest Power and light which have significantly reduced worker's compensation costs."




More on FMS in a future blog...