Comparing Soft Tissue Injury Rate Using the Functional Movement Screen in Division I Football Players

Abstract

The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) was created in 1995 to gather information on movement patterns and use that knowledge to improve fundamental movement patterns. However, past research has indicated the FMS may be used to predict the potential for soft tissue injuries, primarily based upon asymmetries. The majority of past studies indicate an FMS score of <14 as an indicator of an increased risk of experiencing a soft tissue injury. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare pre-season FMS scores, from collegiate football players between two consecutive seasons, with respect to soft tissue injury rate. METHODS: Prior to the 2013-14 (n=88; Age=20.2+1.6 years; BW= 228.3+44.4 lbs; Height= 72.8+2.2 in; FMS= 13.8+2.3) and 2014-15 season (n=96; Age=20.1+1.5 years; BW= 229.1+40.5 lbs; Height= 72.2+2.7; FMS=14.0+2.5) Division 1 FCS football players had FMS scores recorded. During each subsequent season, all soft tissue injuries were documented by the Athletic Training staff. RESULTS: A Pearson Product Moment Correlation, within season, and independent samples t-test were conducted, for between season comparisons. Results showed inline lunge asymmetry (ILA) (p=.001) and active straight leg raise (ASLR) (p=.003) were significantly different between seasons. A ROC Curve showed both seasons supported an FMS cutoff score of <14 as an indicator of increased risk for injury. CONCLUSION: Both seasons contributed to the growing amount of research that supports the FMS cutoff score for elevated risk of soft tissue injury of <14. The ASLR scores were significantly correlated to injury location for the 2014-15 season and significantly different between seasons. Specifically, the ASLR scores increased between seasons while overall injury rates decreased. This finding was expected, as players’ movements improve the number of soft tissue injuries decrease. Counterintuitively, the ILA significantly increased between seasons, along with a decrease in soft tissue injury rates. While the ILA finding contradicts past research it is possibly due to the unmeasurable confounding variables associated with football (i.e., collision-based sport), which could skew the ability of the FMS to accurately predict future soft tissue injury risk.