FMS Tests, Scoring Criteria, Score Sheet & Verbal Instructions

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FMS Tests and Scoring Criteria

 

Deep Squat

• Upper torso is parallel with tibia or toward vertical
• Femur below horizontal
• Knees are aligned over feet
• Dowel aligned over feet

 

• Upper torso is parallel with tibia or toward vertical
• Femur is below horizontal
• Knees are aligned over feet
• Dowel is aligned over feet
• Heels are elevated

 

• Tibia and upper torso are not parallel
• Femur is not below horizontal
• Knees are not aligned over feet
• Lumbar flexion is noted

 

The athlete receives a score of zero if pain is associated with any portion of this test. A medical professional should perform a thorough evaluation of the painful area.

 

Hurdle Step

• Hips, knees and ankles remain aligned in the sagittal plane
• Minimal to no movement is noted in lumbar spine
• Dowel and hurdle remain parallel

 

• Alignment is lost between hips, knees and ankles
• Movement is noted in lumbar spine
• Dowel and hurdle do not remain parallel

 

• Contact between foot and hurdle occurs
• Loss of balance is noted

 

The athlete receives a score of zero if pain is associated with any portion of this test. A medical professional should perform a thorough evaluation of the painful area.

 

Inline Lunge

• Dowel contacts maintained
• Dowel remains vertical
• No torso movement noted
• Dowel and feet remain in sagittal plane
• Knee touches board behind heel of front foot

 

• Dowel contacts not maintained
• Dowel does not remain vertical
• Movement noted in torso
• Dowel and feet do not remain in sagittal plane
• Knee does not touch behind heel of front foot

 

• Loss of balance is noted

 

The athlete receives a score of zero if pain is associated with any portion of this test. A medical professional should perform a thorough evaluation of the painful area.

 

Shoulder Mobility

• Fists are within one hand length

 

• Fists are within one-and-a-half hand lengths

 

• Fists are not within one and half hand lengths

 

The athlete will receive a score of zero if pain is associated with any portion of this test. A medical professional should perform a thorough evaluation of the painful area.

 

Clearing Test

Perform this clearing test bilaterally. If the individual does receive a positive score, document both scores for future reference. If there is pain associated with this movement, give a score of zero and perform a thorough evaluation of the shoulder or refer out.

 

Asymmetrical Straight Leg Raise

• Vertical line of the malleolus resides between mid-thigh and ASIS
• The non-moving limb remains in neutral position

 

• Vertical line of the malleolus resides between mid-thigh and joint line
• The non-moving limb remains in neutral position

 

• Vertical line of the malleolus resides below joint line
• The non-moving limb remains in neutral position

 

The athlete will receive a score of zero if pain is associated with any portion of this test. A medical professional should perform a thorough evaluation of the painful area.

 

Trunk Stability

• The body lifts as a unit with no lag in the spine
• Men perform a repetition with thumbs aligned with the top of the head
• Women perform a repetition with thumbs aligned with the chin

 

• The body lifts as a unit with no lag in the spine
• Men perform a repetition with thumbs aligned with the chin
• Women with thumbs aligned with the clavicle

 

• Men are unable to perform a repetition with hands aligned with the chin
• Women unable with thumbs aligned with the clavicle

 

The athlete receives a score of zero if pain is associated with any portion of this test. A medical professional should perform a thorough evaluation of the painful area.

 

Spinal Extension Clearing Test

Spinal extension is cleared by performing a press-up in the pushup position. If there is pain associated with this motion, give a zero and perform a more thorough evaluation or refer out. If the individual does receive a positive score, document both scores for future reference.

 

Rotary Stability

• Performs a correct unilateral repetition

 

• Performs a correct diagonal repetition

 

• Inability to perform a diagonal repetition

 

The athlete receives a score of zero if pain is associated with any portion of this test. A medical professional should perform a thorough evaluation of the painful area.

 

Spinal Flexion Clearing Test

Spinal flexion can be cleared by first assuming a quadruped position, then rocking back and touching the buttocks to the heels and the chest to the thighs. The hands should remain in front of the body, reaching out as far as possible. If there is pain associated with this motion, give a zero and perform a more thorough evaluation or refer out. If the individual receives a positive score, document both scores for future reference.

 

FMS Verbal Instructions

You can use the following scripts while administering the FMS. For consistency throughout all screens, this script should be used during each screen.

 

Deep Squat

Equipment needed: Dowel

 

Instructions

• Stand tall with your feet approximately shoulder width apart and toes pointing forward.
• Grasp the dowel in both hands and place it horizontally on top of your head so your shoulders and elbows are at 90 degrees.
• Press the dowel so that it is directly above your head.
• While maintaining an upright torso, and keeping your heels and the dowel in position, descend as deep as possible.
• Hold the descended position for a count of one, then return to the starting position.
• Do you understand the instructions?

 

Score the movement.

The client can perform the move up to three times total if necessary.
If a score of three is not achieved, repeat above instructions using the 2 x 6 under the client’s heels.

 

Hurdle Step

Equipment needed: Dowel, Hurdle

 

Instructions

• Stand tall with your feet together and toes touching the test kit.
• Grasp the dowel with both hands and place it behind your neck and across the shoulders.
• While maintaining an upright posture, raise the right leg and step over the hurdle, making sure to raise the foot towards the shin and maintaining foot alignment with the ankle, knee and hip.
• Touch the floor with the heel and return to the starting position while maintaining foot alignment with the ankle, knee and hip.
• Do you understand these instructions?

 

Score the moving leg.

Repeat the test on the other side.

Repeat two times per side if necessary.

 

Inline Lunge

Equipment needed: Dowel, 2×6

 

Instructions

• Place the dowel along the spine so it touches the back of your head, your upper back and the middle of the buttocks.
• While grasping the dowel, your right hand should be against the back of your neck, and the left hand should be against your lower back.
• Step onto the 2×6 with a flat right foot and your toe on the zero mark.
• The left heel should be placed at _____________mark. This is the tibial measurement marker.
• Both toes must be pointing forward, with feet flat.
• Maintaining an upright posture so the dowel stays in contact with your head, upper back and top of the buttocks, descend into a lunge position so the right knee touches the 2×6 behind your left heel.
• Return to the starting position.
• Do you understand these instructions?

 

Score the movement.

Repeat the test on the other side.

Repeat two times per side if necessary.

 

Shoulder Mobility

Equipment needed: Measuring device

Instructions

• Stand tall with your feet together and arms hanging comfortably.
• Make a fist so your fingers are around your thumbs.
• In one motion, place the right fist over head and down your back as far as possible while simultaneously taking your left fist up your back as far as possible.
• Do not “creep” your hands closer after their initial placement.
• Do you understand these instructions?

 

Measure the distance between the two closest points of each fist.

Score the movement.

Repeat the test on the other side.

 

Active Scapular Stability (shoulder clearing)

Instructions

• Stand tall with your feet together and arms hanging comfortably.
• Place your right palm on the front of your left shoulder.
• While maintaining palm placement, raise your right elbow as high as possible.
• Do you feel any pain?

Repeat the test on the other side.

 

Active Straight-Leg Raise

Equipment needed: Dowel, measuring device, 2×6

 

Instructions

• Lay flat with the back of your knees against the 2×6 with your toes pointing up.
• Place both arms next to your body with the palms facing up.
• Pull the toes of your right foot toward your shin.
• With the right leg remaining straight and the back of your left knee maintaining contact with the 2×6, raise your right foot as high as possible.
• Do you understand these instructions?

 

Score the movement.

Repeat the test on the other side.

 

Trunk Stability Pushup

Equipment needed: None

Instructions

• Lie face down with your arms extended overhead and your hands shoulder width apart.
• Pull your thumbs down in line with the ___ (forehead for men, chin for women).
• With your legs together, pull your toes toward the shins and lift your knees and elbows off the ground.
• While maintaining a rigid torso, push your body as one unit into a pushup position.
• Do you understand these instructions?

 

Score the movement.

Repeat two times if necessary.

Repeat the instructions with appropriate hand placement if necessary.

 

Spinal Extension Clearing

Instructions

• While lying on your stomach, place your hands, palms down, under your shoulders.
• With no lower body movement, press your chest off the surface as much as possible by straightening your elbows.
• Do you understand these instructions?
• Do you feel any pain?

 

Rotary Stability

Equipment needed: 2 x 6

 

Instructions

• Get on your hands and knees over the 2×6 so your hands are under your shoulders and your knees are under your hips.
• The thumbs, knees and toes must contact the sides of the 2×6, and the toes must be pulled toward the shins.
• At the same time, reach your right hand forward and right leg backward, like you are flying.
• Then without touching down, touch your right elbow to your right knee directly over the 2×6.
• Return to the extended position.
• Return to the start position.
• Do you understand these instructions?

 

Score the movement.

Repeat the test on the other side.

If necessary, instruct the client to use a diagonal pattern of right arm and left leg.

Repeat the diagonal pattern with left arm and right leg.

Score the movement.

 

Spinal Flexion Clearing

Instructions

• Get on all fours, and rock your hips toward your heels.
• Lower your chest to your knees, and reach your hands in front of your body as far as possible.
• Do you understand these instructions?
• Do you feel any pain?