The Effect of Total Motion Release on Functional Movement Screen Composite Scores: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Context: The Functional Movement Screen (FMS™) provides clinicians with objective criteria to assess movement patterns and overall movement quality. A relationship between low FMS™ composite scores and increased risk of injury has been reported, and researchers have begun to test the effect of interventions to improve FMS™ composite scores. Total Motion Release (TMR®), a novel active movement intervention, has been found to produce improvements in range of motion, as well as patient-reported pain and dysfunction. The effect of TMR® on movement patterns or movement quality is unknown. Objective: To assess the effect of a single treatment application of TMR® on FMS™ composite scores in participants with low baselines FMS™ composite scores. Design: Single-blind randomized controlled study. Setting: Athletic training laboratory. Participants: Twenty-four participants (12 males and 12 females) with FMS™ composite scores of 13 or lower were randomly assigned to either a treatment group or control group. The FMS™ screening procedure was completed on all participants in a pretest and posttest design. Interventions: In between FMS™ testing sessions, participants assigned to the treatment group completed the TMR® FAB 6-treatment protocol, whereas the control group participants did not receive an intervention. Following the treatment period (ie, 20 min), participants again completed the FMS™. Main Outcome Measure: FMS™ composite scores. Results: The improvement in FMS™ composite scores was significantly better (P ≤ .001, Cohen’s d = 1.69) in the TMR® group (mean change = 3.7 [2.2]) compared with the control group (mean change = 0.7 [1.2]). Conclusions: A single application of the TMR® FAB 6 protocol produced immediate acute improvements in FMS™ composite scores in a young, physically active population compared with no intervention. Clinical Relevance: Research evidence exists to suggest impaired or dysfunctional movement patterns or movement quality increases risk of injury. The FMS™ is commonly utilized to assess movement quality and risk of injury. This study provides initial evidence that the use of TMR® rapidly produces acute improvements in movement quality, as measured by the FMS™.