Functional Movement Screen
Wes Emmert, AT-Ret., CSCS, FMS -2
Olmsted Medical Center
Sports Medicine and Athletic Performance
The information contained herein is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice,
diagnosis or treatment in any manner. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health
provider with any questions you may have regarding any medical condition or before engaging in any
physical fitness plan. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America using recycled paper. No
part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever without written permission
from the author or publisher, with the exception of the inclusion of brief quotations in articles or reviews.
Copyright 2010 Functional Movement Systems and Gray Cook.
What is the FMS?
• Developed by Gray Cook, Lee
Burton, and Keith Fields as a simple
method to identify movement pattern
asymmetries and/or deficiencies.
• A simple means to rate and rank basic
movement patterns needed in
everyday physical activity.
• A look at an individual “from 30,000
feet”.
What it is NOT:
• A diagnostic tool.
• An assessment.
• A test.
Scoring the FMS;
• Completed perfectly as verbally described, score a 3.
• Completed with compensation(s), score a 2.
• Unable to perform the pattern as described, score a 1.
• If there is pain with the movement pattern, score a 0 and refer them to their
primary clinician.
Total Score, seven screens, 21 points
• Goal is to score a 14 – reduced risk of injury with
physical activity.
• Score of 13 or less, increased risk of injury with
physical activity.
Before starting;
• Measure the tibia length, floor to the top center of the tibial turberosity
• Measure the hand length, distance from the distal wrist crease to the tip
of the longest digit.
Functional Movement Screen Scoring Sheet
Date: Name: Age: Level:
Team/School: Height: Hand Dominance: q R q L Swing Dominance: q R q L
Sport/Position:
Weight: Leg Dominance: q R q L Throw Dominance: q R q L
Test
Score
Dysfu
nction
Grading Criteria III
Grading Criteria II
Grading Criteria I
1. Deep Squat
TOE TOUCH TEST:
q Able
q Not able
3 2 1 0
• Upper torso is parallel with
tibia or toward vertical
• Femur below horizontal
• Knees aligned over feet
• Dowel aligned over feet
• Upper torso is parallel with
tibia or toward vertical
• Femur below horizontal
• Knees aligned over feet
• Dowel aligned over feet on
a 2x4
• Tibia and upper torso are
not parallel
• Femur not below horizonta
• Knees not aligned over
feet
• Lumbar flexion noted
2. Hurdle Step
Inches: __________
Left Leg Up
Right Leg Up
3 2 1 0
3 2 1 0
3 2 1 0
• The hips, knees, and
ankles remain aligned in
the sagital plane
• Minimal movement in the
lumbar spine
• Dowel and hurdle remain
parallel
• Alignment is lost between
hips, knees, and ankles
• Movement in the lumbar
spine
• Dowel and hurdle do not
remain parallel
• Contact with foot and
hurdle
• Loss of balance at any
time
3. In-Line Lunge
Inches: __________
Left Leg Forward
Right Leg Forward
3 2 1 0
3 2 1 0
3 2 1 0
• Minimal to no torso
movement
• Feet remain in sagital
plane of the 2x6
• Knee touches 2x6 behind
the heel of front foot
• Movement noted in torso
• Feet do not remain in
sagital plane on the 2x6
• Knee does not touch 2x6
behind the heel of front
foot
• Loss of balance at any
time
4. Shoulder Mobility
Distance (tip of middle finger
to distal crease): __________
Impingement Tests:
____________ Left
____________ Right
3 2 1 0
L top: _____
R top: _____
3 2 1 0
3 2 1 0
SCORE 6.5=9.75. 6.75=10.1, 7.0=10.5,
7.25=10.86, 7.5=11.25, 7.75=11.63, 8=12
8.25=12.38, 8.5=12.75, 8.75=13.1. 9=13.5
• Fists should be within one
hand length
• Fists should be within one
and a half hand lengths
• Fists fall greater than one
and a half hand lengths
5. Active Straight Leg Raise
3 2 1 0
L: _______
R: _______
• Malleoi resides between
mid-thigh and ASIS
• Malleoi resides between
mid-thigh and mid-patella
• Malleoi resides below mid
patella
6. Truck Stability Push Up
Prone Press Up Test:
________________
3 2 1 0
• Males perform one
repetition with the thumbs
above head
• Females perform one
repetition with thumbs in
line with the chin
• Males perform one
repetition with thumbs in
line wit the chin
• Females perform one
repetition with thumbs in
line with the clavicle
• Males unable to perform
one rep with hands in line
with chin
• Females unable to perform
one rep with thumbs in line
with clavicle
7. Rotary Stability Quadruped
Kneeling Lumbar Flexion Test
_______________ Left Up
Right Up
3 2 1 0
3 2 1 0
3 2 1 0
• Performs one unilateral rep
while keeping torso parallel
to board
• Knee and elbow touch in
line with the board
• Performs one diagonal rep
while keeping torso parallel
to board
• Knee and elbow touch in
line with the board
• Unable to perform diagona
repetitions
Total Score Tests 1-7: /21 Initials of Tester:
• Today was only a brief description of
the FMS.
• There are still plenty of “tips” to learn
through experience to becoming a
proficient FMS screener.
• Pros;
• Quick easy screen, takes about 10 – 12 mins per athlete.
• The score becomes a universal “language” among certified
screeners.
• Most all athletes struggle with the same screen.
• Cons;
• Assigning a number to the movement can become subjective,
i.e. one screener might give them a “2” while another
screener might give them a “1”.
• Not real conducive to screening a large number of athletes by
a solo coach.
Questions…
Thank You.
