Relationship between Physical Fitness and Functional Movement Screening Scores in Active Males: Providing Preventing Model

Introduction :

An increasing number of sports injuries and consequences of the injuries suggest that prevention of sports injuries is essential. The first step in the prevention of sports injury is screening, and one of the most critical tools in the field is functional movement screening tests. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between physical fitness and functional movement screening scores in active males.

This was a correlation study. For execution, 50 active males from Iran, East azerbaijan state, Bonab city (age 22.60±3.09 yr, height 177.70±6.38 cm, weight 74.06±10.12 kg, sports history 11.12±3.73 yr and physical activity per week 8.50±4.52 h) were selected purposefully. The functional movement screening tests include: deep squat, hurdle step, in-line lunge, shoulder mobility, active straight-leg raise, trunk stability push-up, and rotary stability. Flexibility, speed, power, and agility were assessed using sit-and-reach, 20-m sprint, vertical and standing broad jumps, and modified T-test, respectively.

The results demonstrated that there was a significant correlation between functional movement screening tests, flexibility, and power. However, no significant correlations were found between functional movement screening tests, speed, and agility. Also left leg flexibility and vertical power were significant predictors for functional movement screening tests.

Scores of functional movement screening tests provides the primary injury prevention model for coaches to predict future injury in athletes. Therefore, it is recommended for coaches to pay more attention to the factor of flexibility and vertical and horizontal power to prevent the injuries by considering the specificity principles of training.