Functional Movement Screen (FMS)

Our Approach To Functional Movement Screen (FMS)

Rebuild yourself up with a solid foundation. The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is an effective assessment that provides a safe, personal analysis of how well you move. FMS results help us address and correct any movement deficiencies, and offer a baseline to track your progress during personal training.

Benefits Of A Functional Movement Screen (FMS):

• Assesses your natural gait and movements
• Pinpoints weak movement patterns or sources of injury
• Creates a baseline for starting a personal-training program

Functional Movement Screens Are Good For Anyone:

• With limited mobility or in persistent pain
• Feeling “off” in your movements
• Preventing future work-related or sports injuries

Your Visit

We assess seven fundamental movement patterns, including a squat, hip hinge, and lunge, that you do in your everyday life. These findings guide our team to create your personalized movement or workout program. We reassess each month, to measure your results in more flexibility, strength, and endurance.

What Is Functional Movement Screen?

Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is an assessment program that identifies fundamental movement limitations and pinpoints asymmetrical movements in the body. Through a functional movement screen test, you can determine if you are at risk for injury before you begin a training regimen. FMS can detect physical functional deficits in mobility and stability that may not be identified by traditional athletic physical exams.

How Was Functional Movement Screen Developed?

Gray Cook, MSPT, OCS, CSCS, is the founder of FMS. Cook developed this screening program to help individuals to make the best exercise choices and to minimize injury during personal training. He is a physical therapist, board-certified orthopedic specialist, and certified strength and conditioning specialist, as well as a well-known lecturer and author of books and DVDs.

How Does FMS Work?

The functional movement screen test evaluates seven fundamental movement patterns to detect potential for injury and problems with muscle symmetry. The seven screening tests include the following:

1. Deep Squat – Tests functional and symmetrical mobility in the hips, knees and ankles.
2. Hurdle Step – Assesses stability and functional mobility of the hips, knees and ankles.
3. In-Line Lunge – Gauges stability and mobility in the torso, shoulders, hips and ankles; the flexibility in the quadriceps; and stability in the knees.
4. Shoulder Mobility – Assesses range of motion in the shoulders and mobility of the shoulder blades.
5. Straight Leg Raise – Tests functional flexibility in the hamstrings and calves while the pelvis remains stable.
6. Trunk Stability Push-Up – Gauges symmetrical stability in the body’s core.
7. Rotary Stability – Assesses core stability combined with mobility in the upper and lower body.

These tests are designed to put your body in extreme positions to make weaknesses and imbalances noticeable and easy to assess. While your body may feel strained, the assessment exercises are designed to evaluate anyone’s basic movement abilities, regardless of fitness level. FMS provides a baseline to measure and assess performance goals during an exercise program.

What Happens After The Initial Screening?

Our team will use your FMS results to determine the best way to start or modify your strength training program. If any weaknesses or imbalances are picked up, we take you through the appropriate corrective Functional Movement exercises to accelerate improvement. If underlying structural problems exist, we do a deep dive into compensation patterns and look further into diagnosis and treatment with other tools in our toolbox such as NeuroKinetic Therapy and a Selective Functional Movement Assessment.