Are Functional Movement Screen Tests Performed at the Right Time, if It Is an Injury Risk Predictor?

Abstract

Context: Sports injuries are more common when players are fatigued and occur more frequently at the end of matches; therefore, determining the right time for employing an injury screening test is important. Objective: To determine the role of timing (prematch vs postmatch fatigue) on the functional movement screen (FMS) scores, a frequently used injury risk screening method. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Field. Participants: Twenty-four women soccer players from a professional team were included. Main Outcome Measures: The players were evaluated with a visual analog scale for perceived fatigue and with the FMS. Assessments were conducted before and after a 60-minute match. Results: The subtest scores for deep squat, hurdle line, in-line lunge, trunk stability push-up, and the total FMS scores showed a significant decrease following the match (P < .05). Compared with prematch, the number of players who could achieve the highest score of 3/3 postmatch was lower for all subtests except right shoulder mobility. Conclusions: Our results suggest a negative relationship between perceived fatigue level and performance on the deep squat, hurdle line, in-line lunge, and trunk stability push-up subtest scores and in the total FMS score. Therefore, the authors suggest that screening tests such as the FMS should be employed following a match when players present with fatigue.