Background: The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is a full body assessment tool found to be predictive of injury in competitive athletes by identifying predisposing asymmetries and dysfunctional movements. Objective: To determine ability of 6-week individualized and mass training interventions in increasing composite FMS score in an NCAA division III college athlete population and determine inter-rater and intra rater reliability of the FMS tool. Study Design: Experimental, randomized controlled, single blind study utilizing pretest/posttest and intervention. Setting: Small NCAA division III institution. Subejcts: 132 NCAA division III college athletes. Data Collection and Analysis: Participants were pretested utilizing the Functional Movement Screen and assigned to one of three intervention groups: individualized, mass or placebo. Intervention exercises were performed during 12 exercise sessions over a period of no longer than six-weeks followed by a posttest FMS. FMS testing was conducted by 2 FMS certified clinicians for the secondary purpose of this study to assess inter-rater and intra rater reliability of the FMS tool. Results: A one-way repeated measures ANOVA found statistically significant change in composite FMS score between groups, between pretest and posttest, and for interaction between group x test for group vs. placebo. The mass group and the placebo group differed significantly at post intervention testing with clinically relevant difference between individualized and placebo groups. Similar changes were found in mass and individualized group mean composite FMS scores between pretest and posttest. A very high intra-rater reliability and inter-rater reliability were demonstrated. Conclusion: A mass intervention protocol was found to increase composite FMS score better than the time intensive recommended individualized intervention protocol proposed by the FMS creator.
