The Functional Movement Screen

Functional movement, do you have it?  The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is based off the idea of our body being properly aligned and maintained so that our normal range of movement is not restricted in any way.  How your body is aligned is an important part of your life that many are not aware of, so you may want to take more time to learn about FMS other than just this article. The FMS theory and exercises have been researched refined for 15 years by Gary Cook, MSPT, OCS, CSCS and Lee Burton, PhD, ATC, CSCS.  Gary is a practicing physical therapist and has spent his whole career refining functional movement.

The screen itself is a series of movement tests that document movements key to normal human functioning.  The FMS records asymmetries and functional limitations of the body through a series of ten tests and then based on the score, corrective exercises are assigned to the areas of the body that need to be repositioned and/or strengthened.  The score is done by exercise professional who has been certified in the screen.

To become certified one must attend a two-day seminar and then complete some one-on-one hours with an instructor followed by completing an online exam.  The examiner uses the score to track one’s progress as they move along with the corrective exercises.  The score is given out as a 0, 1,2 or 3.  A score of 3 means the movement was completed with no pain and no restriction.  A 2 as a score means the movement was almost completed but there was a restriction.  A score of 1 means that the movement could not be completed fully due to restriction and pain.  A 0 as a score indicates pain that totally restricts the movement.  To be cleared as totally functional a score of 15 is needed.

The great part about the exercises is they are easy to understand and keep up with on your own.  This allows for anybody to go through the FMS.  So whether you are an athlete, a parent, a grandparent or someone who works forty plus hours a week the FMS is an option for you.  It takes fifteen minutes to get screened so check for an instructor near you at www.functionalmovement.com.